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BIOGRAPHY 


AVID  AAEON  DE  SOLA, 


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IN  LONDON, 


BY  HIS  SON, 

THE  REV.  DR.  ABRAHAM  DE  SOLA, 

OF    MONTREAL. 


m^i^'^-^'^ 


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BIOGRAPHY 


(/I 


DAYID  AARON  DE  SOLA, 

LATE  SENIOE  MINISTER  OF  THE  PORTUGUESE  JEWISH 
COMMUNITY  IX  LONDON. 


ur  HIS  SOX, 

THE  REV.  DR.  ABRAHAM  DE  SOLA, 

OF  MONTREAL.  ,^.^ 


PHILADELPHIA: 
WM.   H.   JONES   &  SON,   PRINTERS, 

yo.  olO  MINOR  STREET. 


Hi 'I  J 


k  I 


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DEDICATION. 

To  the  cherished  memory  of  a  beloved  father,  revered  teacher, 
and  pious  exemplar; — to  a  dear  mother,  his  much-prized  and  loved 
helpmeet,  as  a  memento  of  her  deep  solicitude  and  devotion; — 
to  his  uniformly  warm  and  zealous  friend.  Sir  Moses  Montefiore, 
Israel's  champion,  who,  with  his  lamented  consort,  the  Lady  Ju- 
dith, n";r,  were,  from  first  to  last,  the  main  supporters  and  encour- 
agers  of  his  literary  and  all  other  undertakings ; — in  grateful  re- 
cognition of  this  and  numerous  other  tokens  of  more  than  a  friend's 
kindness  to  himself  and  family,  I  dedicate  the  present  faint  sketch 
of  one  whose  name  will  ever  be  associated  with  the  respect  which 
wisdom,  virtue,  and  piety  command  from  their  admirers. 

Abraham  De  Sola. 
Montreal,  Kisler,  5625. 


BIOGRAPHY 


OF 


DAYID  AAEON  DE  SOLA, 

LATE  SENIOR  MINISTER  OF  THE  PORTUGUESE  JEWISH  COMMUNITY 

IN   LONDON. 


BY  HIS  SON,  THE  RET.  DK.  ABKAHAM  BE  SOLA,  OF  MONTREAB. 


I) AVID  Aaron  De  Sola  was  descended  from  an  ancient  family 
of  Sephardim,  who  emigrated  from  Spain  in  1492,  on  the  expul- 
sion of  the  Jews  from  that  country,  by  Ferdinand  and  Isabella. 
The  family  seem  to  have  settled  mainly  in  Holland ;  but  their 
name  appears  at  a  very  early  period  of  the  re-establishment  of 
the  Jewish  community  in  England,  under  Charles  II.  It  may  be 
permitted  us,  as  preliminary  to  the  biographical  sketch  we  at- 
tempt, to  give  a  brief  account  of  some  of  the  members  of  this  fa- 
mily which,  both  in  Holland  and  England,  has  produced  for  us  so 
many  ministers  and  scholars  of  repute.  We  shall  only  refer  to 
such  members  of  the  Holland  branch  as  were  connected  with  the 
early  history  and  training  of  the  subject  of  this  notice- 
In  the  first  row  of  graves  in  what  used  to  be  called  the  New 
Burial  Ground  at  Mile  End,  London,  is  the  tombstone  of  Isaac 
de  Sola,  who  was  preacher  in  London  in  5450-5460  (1690-1700), 
consequently,  only  some  thirty-five  years  after  the  re-admission  of 
Jews  into  England  under  Charles  II,  and  before  any  of  the  ex- 
isting Synagogues  had  been  built — the  most  ancient,  that  of  the 
Portuguese  in  Bevis  Marks,  having  been  erected  in  1701.  He 
died  Hesvan  5495  (1785),  as  is  recorded  on  his  tombstone.    lie 


4  BIOGRAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA. 

was  the  author  of  the  following  works  in  Spanish :  1,  A  volume 
of  Sermons,*  printed  in  Amsterdam  5464  (1704).  2,  Elucidations 
of  mooted  points  of  law,t  Amsterdam,  5464.  3,  Exposition  of  the 
Psalms.  4,  "Questions  and  Replies"  on  the  Pentateuch.  5,  An- 
other volume  of  "  Questions  and  Replies,"  for  pulpit  purposes. 
6,  A  Collection  of  twenty-one  Sermons  preached  in  Amsterdam. 
The  first  of  these  works,  which  displays  deep  theological  research 
and  a  wide  acquaintance  with  general  literature,  contains  the  un- 
qualified approval  of  the  communal  chief  Rabbi  and  Principal  of 
the  Rabbinical  College,  the  celebrated  Haham  Selomoh  dc  Oli- 
veyra,J  as  also  the  warm  eulogium  of  "  the  honored  Haham  and 
learned  preacher,"  R.  Selomoh  Yehuda  Leon  Templo,  author  of 
the  well-known  "  Reshith  Chochmah  ;"§  the  latter  styles  our  au- 
thor his  "esteemed  and  intelligent  disciple,"  and  speaks  of  his 
earliest  productions]]  in  the  most  laudatory  terms.^  He  was  about 

*  "Serraones  hechos  sobrc  diferentes  asumptos."  Compuestos  y  Predicados 
por  el  Docto  Ingenio  Ishac  De  Sola,  En  Amsterdam  aiio  5464.  En  casa  de 
JMoseli  Diaz.  They  were  chiefly  delivered  in  the  Yesiba  Livi/at  Hen,  and  Ye- 
siba  Baale  Teshuba,  Amst.,  and  are  dedicated  to  Jacob.  Abm.  Nunes  Hen- 
riques. 

f  ♦'  Preguntas  con  sus  Respuestos."  Hec"has  en  la  Yesiba  de  Livyat  Hen,  on 
las  Festividades  del  afio.  Por  el  estudioso  Ishac  De  Sola.  Amst.  5464.  M.  Diaz. 

X  This  learned  Eabbi,  whose  reputation  in  the  eminent  Amsterdam  school 
stands  second  only  to  that  of  the  historical  Menasseh  ben  Israel,  and  who  was 
the  attached  friend  of  Isaac  Dc  Sola,  was  "a  theologian,  astronomer,  moral- 
philosopher,  and  grammarian  of  great  repute."  (Vide  De  Rossi,  "Diz.'  Stor. 
degli  Autori  Ebrei,"  vol.  ii.  p.  81,  Parma  ed. :  Lindo's  "  Jews  of  Spain,"  &c., 
p.  368,  and  Zinn's  "Sephardim,"  p.  404.)  He  was  author  of  the  following 
highly  esteemed  works  in  Hebrew  and  Portuguese:  1,  pl5''7  T  Hebrew  Gram- 
mar. 2,  DT^asy  ^71  Chaldee  Grammar.  3,  p;?T  nv  Hebrew  and  Portuguese 
Vocabulary.  4,  Y2l^\  i'7'X  Port,  and  Heb.  Vocabulary.  5,  D'TJ  \'^  Scripture 
Roots.  6,  CSnX  nVx  Hebrew  Rhetoric.  7,  ni'^Jj  r\^\a^\0  Hebrew  Poetry.  8, 
'nO"*T  on  the  Precepts.  9,  Dj^i:  0"n  Rabbinical  Logic,  &c. 

I  rODn  n'lyXT  "Gramathica  Hebrayca,"  &c.  Amst.  Athias  5463. 

II  On  page  37  of  No.  1  he  himself  says:  "Ofreciendo  estas  primicias  q'en  la 
primavera  de  mis  verdes  estudios  cogi  del  jardin  de  la  divina  ley,  a  la  hournC?) 
de  los  M.  M.  Ss.  Parnassim  y  Gabay  desta  Santa  Yesiba."  • 

^  Pois  OS  primeyros  lavores  descobre  tantos  vises,  como  contem  estes  Ser- 
moins,  &c.,  tao  admiravis  em  tudo,  na  fulilcza  do  engenho,  na  fineza  do  dis- 
curso,  no  eloquente  do  estilo,  no  pezo  das  razoins,  &  pureza  das  palavras  que 
mais  parcsem  discurnos  de  hum  pregador  provecto,  que  Scrmoins  de  hum  en- 
tendlmento  principiaHte,  &c. 


»  BIOGRAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA.  d 

twenty-fire  ^ears  old  when  he  published  his  first  volume  of  Ser- 
mons, and  appears  then  to  have  been  married,*  was  in  London 
.  in  1704,t  went  to  Amsterdam  the  same  year,  and  had  also  visit- 
ed Bayonne,  since  one  of  his  Sermons  (No.  10)  was  delivered  there 
before  the  "K.  K.  Nefutsoth  Yehudah,"  whence  we  may  con- 
clude that  he  enjoyed  an  extensive  reputation  as  preacher.  A 
period  of  thirty-one  years  intervened  between  the  publication  of 
this  volume  and  his  decease,  which  was  in  Hesvan,  5495,  when  he 
had  not  yet  attained  his  sixtieth  year.  His  reputation  was  shared 
by  his,  we  believe,  only  son,  Abraham  De  Sola,  (Hazan  and  Beth 
Din  of  the  London  Portuguese  community,)  who  as  Hebrew  scho- 
lar and  theologian  had  but  few  superiors  in  his  day.  The  name  of 
his  wife  Abigail  appears  in  the  list  of  those  who  bequeathed  lega- 
cies to  the  Congregational  Orphan  Society,|  of  which  charity  she 
was  a  warm  friend.  They  are  interred  in  the  same  Beth  Haim, 
and  near  their  graves  is  that  of  another  friend  to  the  communal 
institutions,  Elias  De  Sola,  who  died  5571  (1811) ;  but  as  the 
subject  of  this  notice  had,  at  this  period,  already  attained  his 
t'lirteenth  year,  we  will  now  revert  to  such  members  of  his  family 
in  Holland  as  were  connected  with  his  early  history. 

Dr.  Benjamin  De  Sola,  Court  Physician  to  William  V.,  Prince 
of  Orange,  and  Stadthouder  of  the  Netherlands,  was  an  eminent 
practitioner  at  the  Hague,  and  received  his  secular  training  at 
the  University  of  Utrecht — enlightened  Holland  imposing  no  re- 
ligious tests  or  civil  disqualifications  on  her  Jewish  population,  to 
prevent  their  attaining  the  highest  pinnacle  of  political  and  intel- 
lectual distinction.  A  striking  and  interesting  proof  of  this  is 
afforded  in  the  Inaugural  Medical  Dissertation  which  he  wrote  in 
Latin§  previous  to  his  obtaining  his  degree  of  M.  D.,  a  copy  of 
which  lies  before  us,  printed  in  1773.    The  title-page  shows  that 

*  Page  56. 

f  "  En  el  poco  tiempo  que  as8i8ti  en  aquella  ponpulosa  ciudad  de  Londres." 

X  See  Report  of  the  Society,  issued  in  1825. 

I  "  Dissertatio  Medica  Inauguralis  de  Matris  prse  Alieno  Natricis  Lactis 
Necessitate  ac  Utilitate,  quam  annuente  Summo  Numine  •  •  •  ncc  non 
amplissimi  Senatus  Academici  consensu,  atque  Nobilissimae  Facultatis  Medi- 
csc  decreto,  pro  gradu  Doctoratus.  Eruditorum  Examini  submittit  Benjamin 
de  Sola,  Amstelodamensis,  Die  xxix.  Decembris  MDCCLXXIII.  H.  L.  Q.  S." 
It  i«  accompanied  with  a  copperplate  vignette  of  Utrecht  University,  &c. 


6  BIOGRAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA. 

he  Tvas  "  candidate  for  the  highest  honors  and  privileges  in  Medi- 
cine,"* "which  he  in  fact  obtained;  and  although  he  wrote  this 
treatise  "  ex  auctoritateRectoris  Magnifici  Joannis  Henrici  Voor- 
da  J.  U.  P.  et  Juris  Civilis  JProfessoris  Ordinarii"  still  he  does 
not  dedicate  it  to  that  high  functionary,  but  to  three  of  his  co- 
religionists. He  exhibits  his  respectful  consideration  for  the  reli- 
gious chief  of  his  Synagogue  by  dedicating  it  first  to  the  Haham, 
S.  Salem  ("mVo  venerahili  eruditissimo,"  &c.),  next  to  his  chief 
instructor,  Jacob  de  Meza,  a  Jewish  physician  [Med.  Doctori  eX' 
pertissimo  studiorum  suormn  ductori  Jidelessimo),  and  lastly  to 
his  fellow-student,  J.  Belmonte  (Aluinno  suo  dilectissimo).  A 
noteworthy  fact,  proving  his  Hebrew  attainments  and  his  indepen- 
dence in  treating  his  subject,  not  less  than  the  enlightened  libe- 
rality which  obtained  in  his  Alma  Mater  and  among  the  literati 
around  him,  is  that  he  supports  his  line  of  argument  not  merely 
by  reference  to  Latin  and  Greek  authors,  but  also  by  the  Hebrew 
commentators. t  This  learned  and  eminent  man,  to  whose  high 
reputation  the  literature  of  the  day  bears  ample  testimony,  be- 
came so  much  attached  to,  and  favorably  impressed  with  his  ne- 
phew David,  that  he  took  him  at  the  early  age  of  eleven  years  to 
train  him  for  his  profession;  but  after  studying  osteology  for 
some  time,  our  young  student  prefeiTed  to  devote  himself  exclu- 
sively to  his  favorite  theology  and  Hebrew  literature.  In  1814, 
Dr.  Benjamin  De  Sola  having  had  the  misfortune  to  become  blind, 
went  to  Amsterdam,  and  underwent  there  an  operation  which  par- 
tially restored  his  sight.  A  brother  having  died  at  Cura9oa  who 
left  him  a  considerable  legacy,  he  went  to  reside  there ;  but  did 
not  survive  his  arrival  above  a  year.  His  remaining  brother  in 
Amsterdam,  David  Aaron  De  Sola,J  who  was  distinguished  for 
his  Jewish  learning,  had  four  sons,§  the  eldest  of  whom,  Aaron,|| 

*  "Summisque  in  Medecina  Honoribus  Privilegiis,  rite  ac  legitime  con- 
sequendis. 

f  See  pp.  11, 12.  At  the  end  of  the  Treatise  is  a  rythmic  Eulogy  by  another 
friend  and  co-religionist,  A.  Coroncl,  M.  D. 

X  Ob.  5558.  He  married  Sarah  Jessurun  d'Oliveyra,  Ob.  55&8. 

2  Aaron,  Moses,  Isaac,  and  Samuel. 

II  Born  1770,  died.  13th  June,  1821. 


BIOGRAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA.  T 

married  Sarah  Namias  Torres,*  by  whom  he  had  issue  two  daagh- 
tersf  and  one  son,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  ^  ui-uefi 

David  Aaron  de  Sola  was  born  in  Amsterdam  on  the  26tli  day 
of  Kislev,  5557  (26th  Dec.  1796).  His  parents  were  highly  edu- 
cated persons,  whose  intelligence  was  only  exceeded  by  their 
piety  and  scrupulous  observance  of  their  religious  duties.  The 
then  Chief  Rabbi  of  Amsterdam,  Haham  Daniel  Cohen  D'Aza- 
vedo,  styles  the  father  "  a  man  of  superior  intelligence,  perfect 
and  upright."  jNtyna  k-i3J  Kin  ni7*i  on  t^'X  And  of  the  mother, 
whose  Hebrew  attainments  were  deemed  extraordinary  even  in  a 
community  where  female  proficiency  in  the  sacred  language  was 
by  no  means  a  rarity,  he  writes,  "  She  was  in  truth  '  a  virtuous 
woman,'  who  was  constantly  employed  in  the  study  of  sacred 
literature,  until  her  soul  went  to  heaven  some  years  since." 
Dv  "TO  ^^pf'^i302  rh-hy  di\x?di3o  t<D^J  p'oa  nSt  Vn  r\w\<  nn^n  noKJai 
§  wysS  nivpS  D'Diy^  nnoK^j  nnS;?  ie?x  n;;  v^rh  ennoi  on 

On  their  only  son  these  gifted  parents  lavished  their  best  care, 
so  that  at  a  very  early  age  his  progress  in  Hebrew  and  general 
literature  was  very  great.  His  mother's  chief  delight  was  to 
watch  and  further  this  progress,  and  the  development  of  pious 
principles,  by  unceasing  exertions ;  lind  he  never  forgot  her  un- 
ceasing solicitude,  but  to  the  latest  day  of  his  life  always  spoke 
of  her  in  the  warmest  terms  of  affection  and  reverence.  The  an- 
nual mortuary  service  he  held  for  her  was  always  a  melancholy 
occasion  for  him.  The  memory  of  such  a  mother  in  Israel  is  in- 
'  deed  blessed. 

Long  before  he  attained  his  religious  majority  he  was  compe- 
tent to  act  as  Baal  Koreh.  His  Hebrew  grammatical  studies 
commenced  with  Templo's  noDn  n'U'NT  and  were  continued  in  the 
more  elaborate  works  of  De  Balmis,  Lumbroso,  M.  Kimchi,  and 
Redak.  These  studies  branched  out  to  Hebrew  Poetry,  which  he 
read  with  great  avidity,  becoming  well  acquainted  with  that  glo- 
rious band  of  Spanish-Jewish  poets  whose  productions  have  never 
been  excelled.  The  regular  reading  and  translation  of  the  sacred 

*  On  2d  Tarauz,  5553. 

f  The  first  died  prematurely,  the  second  married  Heer  Jacob  J.  Bassan,  an 
eminent  mathematician  in  Amsterdam. 

i  See  his  nn*?  nbnn  l  ibid. 


tf  BIOGRAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA. 

Scriptures,  with  their  exposition,  formed  an  essential  part  of  his 
early  training.  In  the  pious  and  happy  home  of  Aaron  and  Sa- 
rah De  Sola  the  favorite  vDlume  which  invariably  made  its  ap- 
pearance on  Sabbath  evenings  was  the  '•'■  Paraphriuis  Commenta- 
rio"  of  R.  Isaac  Aboab,  an  excellent  work  written  in  Spanish, 
and  a  favorite  expositor  among  the  Sephardim  of  Amsterdam. 
This  book,  diligently  studied  as  it  was,  would  in  itself  have  af- 
forded him  considerable  acquaintance  with  Jewish  interpretation  ;• 
but  his  father,  who  designed  for  him  a  thorough  theological  train- 
ing, soon  introduced  him  to  the  original  Hebrew  sources,  and  he 
thus  speedily  became  acquainted  with  the  Commentaries  of  Kim- 
chi,  Aben  Ezra,  Rashi,  Nachmanides,  and  the  Midrashim.  The 
philosophical  acumen  and  beautiful  style  of  Abarbanel  always 
rendered  him,  even  in  later.days,  a  favorite  author.  His  father, 
a  great  Talmudist,  soon  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  him  devote 
himself  to  the  higher  branches  of  Hebrew  theology,  and  in  the 
Beth-Hamidrash  he  studied  with  great  assiduity  the  Talmud,* 
Turim,  and  later  Possekim.  He  was  admitted  in  the  Medras  at  the 
unusually  early  age  of  eleven  years,  and  continued  his  attendance 
there  for  nearly  nine  years.  During  this  time  he  was  promoted 
through  all  the  five  degrees,*  up  to  the  highest,  which  could  only 
be  attained  hj public  competition  among  the  students  {escutihas),^ 
Of  this  famous  Jewish  College  he  himself  gives  us  a  brief  notice 
when  in  1854  he  contributed  to  the  Jewish  papers  an  interesting 
account  of  the  visit  of  the  king  of  Portugal  and  suite  to  the  Am- 
sterdam Portuguese  Synagogue.  He  says : 

"  His  Majesty  next  proceeded  to  the  ancient  and  famous  Beth 
Hamedrash  *  Ets  Hayim,'  which,  with  its  valuable  library,  is  in 
one  of  the  buildings  forming  the  spacious  quadrangle  in  which 
the  Synagogue  stands.  There  are  two  Medrashim,  several  reli- 
gious schools,  and  Yeshiboth.  This  seminary  is  famous  for  the 
many  celebrated  and  erudite  theologians  who  have  therein  flour- 
ished. Of  these  it  is  only  necessary  to  mention  Menasseh  ben  Is- 

*  From  a  memorandum  made  by  himself  in  a  volume  of  the  Talmud  we  find 
that  Moed  Katon  and  Betzah  were  the  treatises  read  by  him  in  his  earlier  years, 
while  yet  in  the  Medras  Pequeno  or  Junior  Seminary.  Another  volume  of  the 
Talmud  shows  he  had  studied  Massecheth  Megillah  in  5575,  when  in  his  seven- 
teenth year. 

y  Sec  Letter  to  the  Velhos,  Ist  of  March,  1854. 


BIOGRAPHY  OP  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA.  9 

rael,  Saul  Levy  Morteira,  Raphael  de  Aguilar,  Sasportas,  Athias, 
OliveyiA,  Meldola,  &c.  The  volumes  of  doctrinal  decisions  pub- 
lished under  the  title  of  D""n  yp  na  m' V  contain  the  works  of  the 
more  modern  theologians  who  have  there  studied." 

In  this  eminent  seminary  of  Jewish  learning  he  was  constantly 
to  be  found.  "  His  youth,"  vrrites  Chief  Rabbi  D'Azavedo,  "  was 
passed  within  the  walls  of  the  College  or  of  the  Synagogue.  In 
either  of  these  was  he  always  to  be  found  from  the  time  that  his 
mind  developed  itself  and  he  left  his  mother's  care.*"  It  is  not 
surprising  that  as  the  result  of  this  close  application,  joined  to 
great  intellectual  gifts,  we  should  find  so  competent  and'  trust- 
worthy authority  as  Haham  D'Azavedo  pronounce  him  a  tho- 
rough Talmudist,  a  title  which  at  that  time  and  in  that  community 
was  not  bestowed  on  smatterers,  but  only  on  those  who  by  years 
of  successful  study  had  rendered  themselves  worthy  of  distinction. 
He  applies  to  him  the  flattering  titles  N3nn  xbaba  D^ni  |133.  He 
also  speaks  in  laudatory  terms  of  his  general  attainments,  and 
presented  him  with  a  diploma  such  as  few  young  men  under  the 
age  of  twenty  had  there  received.  He  pronoimces  him  to  the 
fullest  extent  competent  to  discharge  Rabbinical  functions,  to 
examine  Shochetim  in  their  duties,  both  theoretically  and  practi- 
cally, and  to  assume  the  ministerial  office  "  in  every  city  and 
every  place." 

But  while  he  was  thus  assiduously  pursuing  his  theological  stu- 
dies, his  secular  training  was  not  at  all  neglected.  The  Spanish 
and  Portuguese  languages  being  commonly  spoken  in  his  father's 
house,  and  being  in  fact  the  chief  medium  of  religious  instruction 
both  in  the  Synagogue  and  Beth  Hamedrash,  they  became  as  fa- 
miliar to  him  as  his  vernacular ;  while  his  intercourse  with  culti- 
vated members  of  the  Ashkenazim  community  assisted  him  in 
his  study  of  the  German,  which,  as  his  contributions  to  "  Der 
Orient,"  &c.,  will  show,  he  wrote  with  fluency  and  elegance.  He 
cultivated  the  German  and  French  secular  literature  to  an  extent, 
indeed,  that  not  all  the  orthodox  Jewish  families  would  then  ap- 
prove.    But  his  parents  combined  intelligence  with  their  piety ; 

*  by  n3;r^  arn  {d^  Ntyno  '2h  ntidjd  "30  p"i3j  t]"z?  ^7";;  ^1"^^  imj'jo  o 

B 


to  BIOGRAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA. 

they  did  not  oppose  these  studies,  and  the  best  authors  In  all  the 
languages  mentioned  were  placed  at  his  disposal.  So  with  the 
Jewish  philosopliico-religious  writings.  Although  the  Jewish 
community  of  Amsterdam  were  justly  noted  for  their  superior  en- 
lightenment ;  although  our  student  might  read  the  philosophical 
pages  of  Arama,  Albo,  Yehudah  Halcvi,  Maimonides,  and  others 
of  the  Spanish  school,  without  calling  forth  remark ;  yet  were 
there  many  who  looked  upon  the  productions  of  Mendelssohn  and 
his  disciples  with  any  thing  but  favor.  But  he  was  too  ardent  an 
admirer  of  this  great  man's  writings  to  be  easily  deterred  from 
pursuing  their  study.  At  the  same  time  he  did  not  neglect  the  phy- 
sical sciences,  for  which  he  had  acquired  a  taste  while  under  the 
instruction  of  Dr.  Benjamin  De  Sola.  On  the  contrary,  he  found 
it  absolutely  necessary  measurably  to  cultivate  them  for  the  pro- 
per understanding  of  the  authors  he  read,  and  he  never  would 
read  without  comprehending.  In  late  years,  when  the  appearance 
of  such  works  as  the  "Bridgewater  Treatises"  compelled  minis- 
ters of  religion  to  acquire  some  knowledge  of  natural  science,  he 
found  the  value  of  such  a  training.  Nor  did  his  more  serious  stu- 
dies cause  him  to  neglect  the  acquisition  of  the  accomplishments 
of  life.  He  became  quite  a  proficient  in  drawing,*  sketching,  and 
music.  Of  the  latter  he  Avas  all  his  life  passionately  fond.  Nature 
had  gifted  him  with  a  fine  ear  and  most  melodious  voice,  and  he 
composed  several  very  beautiful  sacred  pieces — a  specimen  of 
which  we  may  find  in  the  appendix  to  a  work  published  by  him 
on  the  Sephardic  Ritual  Melodies,  which  we  shall  notice  hereaf- 
ter. Mathematics  and  Astronomy,  History  and  Belles  Lettres 
formed  integral  parts  of  his  educational  course,  and  so  quick  and 
clear  was  his  perception  of  all  he  read,  so  remarkably  retentive 
was  his  memory,  that  before  he  had  attained  his  twentieth  year 
he  was  regarded  as  the  most  learned  and  gifted  young  man  in  the 
large  and  intelligent  community  in  which  he  lived,  f 

*  Beautiful  Hebrew  caligraphy  was  at  this  time  highly  esteemed  as  a  ne- 
cessary accomplishment.  Some  specimens  in  the  possession  of  the  writer,  such 
as  an  illuminated  Omer  and  portion  of  a  Pentateuch,  done  by  him  about  5570, 
exhibit  a  proficiency  creditable  to  a  Sopher  MaJdr. 

•j-  His  mother  however  was  not  spared  to  see  the  fruits  of  this  training ;  for 
she  changed  her  earthly  cares  for  the  heavenly  rest  on  the  7th  April,  21st 
Nissan,  1817,  one  year  before  he  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  future  public 


BIOGRAPHY  OP  DAVID  AAEON  DE  SOLA.  tt 

The  ancient  and  influential  congregation  Shaar  Asliamayim, 
of  London,  having  decided,  in  1818,  to  appoint  a  Hazan  Sheni, 
intimation  thereof  Tvas  duly  conveyed  to  the  Amsterdam  congre- 
gation, and  the  two  deemed  most  competent  to  fill  the  office  were 
invited  to  proceed  to  London  as  candidates.  The  two  alumni 
selected  were  Solomon  Aaron  del  Canho  and  David  Aaron  de 
Sola ;  the  former,  senior  with  respect  to  age  only,  was  the  warm 
friend  and  admirer  of  his  junior  fellow-student  through  life.  If 
we  now  pause  to  examine  what  was  the  position  he  was  about  to 
assume,  what  were  the  requirements  of  the  office  he  was  to  fulfil, 
we  shall  find  that  the  field  he  was  leaving  seemed  in  every  respect 
more  desirable — retrogression  rather  than  advancement  appeared 
to  be  the  prospect.  An  examination  of  the  Ascamot*  or  by-laws, 
referring  to  the  office  and  duties  of  Hazan  in  this  congregation, 
will  sufficiently  demonstrate  this.  Thus  we  find  that,  although 
there  may  be  nominally  a  Hazan  Rislion,  or  senior  Reader,  he  is 
only  to  be  considered  s'enior  in  so  far  as  priority  of  appointment 
is  concerned, — ^he  has  no  special  duties,  no  rights  or  privileges, 
different  from  his  junior,  save,  perhaps,  a  precedence  in  the  per- 
formance of  divine  worship.  This  duty  is  to  be  performed  by 
the  two  Hazanim  in  alternate  weeks  (chap.  ix.  §  2,  p.  35).  So 
also  with  the  solemnization  of  weddings  and  births.  Section  7, 
p.  37  shows  that  the  Hazan  cannot  perform  any  official  act  without 
the  permission  of  the  presiding  Parnas  ;  he  is  to  yield  obedience 
to  all  orders  of  the  Elders  of  the  Mahamad,  and  any  neglect  of 
duty  is  to  be  visited  with  fine  or  temporary  suspension.f  Before 
election,  the  Hazan  is  to  undergo  a  probation,  which  consists  in 
saying  prayers  in  Synagogue  as  Hazan  one  whole  week,  in  order 

♦Ascamot,  or  Laws  and  Regulations,  &c.  London,  Revised  Ed.,  5610, 1850. 

f  The  Hazanim,  in  matters  of  Synagogue  discipline,  were,  of  course,  to  be 
considered  under  the  direction  of  both  the  Haham  and  Mahamad  (vestry). 
Thus  a  letter  from  the  Mahamad  chamber,  dated  26th  July,  1822,  directed  to 
the  Hazanim,  shows  that  various  penalties  having  been  incurred  by  certain 
cdngregators,  the  Hazanim  were  directed  to  guide  themselves  accordingly, 
the  penalties  to  remain  in  force  till  they  received  orders  to  the  contrary.  The 
Hazanim  were  expected  to  be  present  at  the  drawing  of  the  marriage  portions 
given  by  the  Society  Mehil  Tsedaca,  See  Report  1840,  p.  14.  The  above  seem 
to  be  the  only  references  made  to  the  office  of  Hazan. 


12  BIOGRAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA. 

that  all  the  Yehidim  may  have  opportunity  to  hear  and  judge  of 
his  capacity  and  voice.  From  the  above  it  will  be  seen  that  a 
Reader  was  required  rather  than  a  minister  or  preacher.  But  it 
is  proper  to  remember  that  the  congregation  was  at  this  time 
under  the  spiritual  direction  of  a  Chief  Rabbi,  whose  fame  as 
author,  theologian,  and  scholar  was  world-wide.  It  is  scarcely 
necessary  to  mention  the  name  of  Haham  Raphael  Meldola,  him- 
self descended  from  a  family  who  had  given  Chief  Rabbis  and 
theologians  to  Italy,  France,  and  Holland  uninterruptedly  for 
twelve  generations.*  Pulpit  discourses  and  supervision  of  the 
public  schools  were,  therefore,  not  expected  from  the  Hazanim,f 
but  devolved  upon  Haham  Meldola,  than  whom  no  more  zealous 
friend  and  promoter  of  religious  education  could  be  found.  This 
is  amply  shown  in  an  English  pamphlet  published  by  him,J  and 
in  his  various  Hebrew  works,  one  of  which  §  was  partially  trans- 
lated and  published  by  his  son  and  successor,  R.  David  Meldola. 
Previous  to  the  appointment  of  Haham  Meldola  there  appears  to 
have  been  a  sorrowful  falling  off  in  the  religious  educational 
efforts  of  the  congregation,  as  is  shown  by  the  zealous  J.  Mocatta 
in  his  address  to  the  congregation  1|  published  in  1803.  And 
although  Dr.  Meldola  introduced  many  salutary  reforms,  we  yet 

*See  nn  naT  chap.  54,  p.  139,  and  the  Biography  of  E.  David  Meldola, 
in  the  Jewish  papers. 

f  Indeed,  not  very  frequently  even  from  the  Haham.  The  Ascama  says  : 
"  The  Haham  shall  preach  in  Sj'nagogue  when  the  Mahamad  may  require 
it."  This  was  generally  on  vHJin  V  T\2)Wr)  'iff  and  special  occasions.  The 
sermons  of  Haham,  and  E.  Dayid  Meldola,  chiefly  in  Spanish,  are  of  marked 
ability  and  learning. 

X  Letter  to  David  Abarhanel  Lindo,  Esq.     London,  June  19,  5587. 

§  njIDX  "jin  The  Way  of  Faith,  &c.     London,  5609,  S.  Meldola  &  Co. 

II  An  address  to  the  congregation  of  Portuguese  Jews,  delivered  at  a  meet- 
ing of  their  elders  on  the  examination  of  the  report  presented  by  the  com- 
mittee on  the  Ecclesiastical  State.  A.  M.  5563.  London,  Adlfird,  1803.  He 
says:  "The  ecclesiastical  state  of  our  nation  portends  a  rapid  decline  of  rcjli- 
gion."  On  p.  8  he  refers  to  the  practice  of  using  Spanish  and  Portuguese  in 
the  schools  as  media  of  translation,  and  says:  "Hard  to  toll,  we  still  retain 
this  practice  to  the  exclusion  of  more  significant  information  *  *  * 
they  are  only  proficient  in  this  ladlnaring  and  reading." 


BIOGRAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA.  13 

find  that  his  complaint  of  the  apathy  of  the  people  is  reiterated 
by  the  lay  directors  of  some  of  the  educational  institutions,*  even 
when  the  new  Hazan  was  assuming  office.  The  slight  glance  we 
have  given  will  show  that  the  improbability  of  any  extended  use- 
fulness or  reputation,  and  the  promise  of  a  but  limited  sphere  of 
action  in  a  community  not  exempt  from  a  distressing  apathy ; 
further  a  not  large  stipend  increased  by  the  objectionable  system 
of  voluntary  offerings,  tended,  unless  the  distinction  of  a  con- 
nection with  so  respectable  and  influential  a  congregation  be 
taken  into  account,  to  form  a  prospect  which  a  young  man  of 
respectable  status  and  of  more  than  ordinary  talents  and  acquire- 
ments, could  scarcely  regard  as  the  fullest  realization  of  those 
soaring  aspirations  in  which  youth  so  much  indulge.  But  it  was 
because  he  was  young,  ardent,  active,  and  zealous  that  he  could 
invest  the  office  with  the  bright  halo  of  promise ;  and  when  ad- 
vised by  his  friends  to  respond  to  the  call,  he  made  the  resolve 
to  himself  that  he  would  yet  widen  the  narrow  sphere  he  was 
about  to  enter,  and  in  elevating  his  sacred  office  by  a  single- 
minded  devotion  to  the  holy  cause,  benefit  his  congregation  and 
the  Hebrew  community  at  large.f  So  resolved,  he  left  his  home, 
carrying  with  him  the  paternal  blessing  and  the  scarcely  less 
prized  benediction  of  his  venerable  Rabbi,  Haham  D'Azcvedo, 
who  accompanied  it  with  letters  of  the  highest  recommendation, 
nor  did  he  lack  the  best  wishes  of  his  many  attached  friends.  J 
He  arrived  in  England,  the  9th  of  July,  1818,  and  on  the  1st 

*  "  It  is  with  deep  regret  I  am  compelled  to  notice  tbat  a  considerable 
degree  of  apathy  seems  to  pervade  our  ranks."  Sketch  of  a  speech  delivered 
by  the  President  of  the  Spanish  and  Portuguese  Charity  Schools,  July  1,  1821. 

f  During  his  long  connection  with  his  congregation,  this  was  always  steadily 
kept  in  view.  In  a  letter  written  some  thirty  years  later,  he  says,  that  his 
endeavors  have  ever  been  to  raise  his  office,  as  far  as  he  could,  by  his  personal 
conduct  and  unwearied  exercise  of  his  talents. 

J  The  venerable  Chief  Eabbi  D'Azevedo  pathetically  laments  the  separation 
from  him,  which  he  says  "is  very  hard"  for  him  1M1   iriT'iiD   ''V  Hl^p  O 

Nn\^nD  ntj?ty  ^2  pnr  ahsmn  ]Tobrh  V'r  d'D'j  ij3-i  bnjn  imr\  :in2\if 
ni  mx  "'ja  'j^;?:!  {n  Nvon  'bix  '01  pnax  ih  fi  nr  Sd  D;r  ty":inn  r\i3it?na 
Q'iyb  on'?  iT'ni  D-Dtyn  ij/a?  n?i  D'B^np  'jnpa  d'dW  nbxn  c^tyjxn  b^^k  'i2 


14  BIOGRAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA. 

of  August  (Sabbath  Mash6)  performed  his  probationary  service 
to  the  satisfaction  of  a  congregation  yet  vividly  impressed  with, 
and  attached  to,  the  ministrations  of  the  popular  Hazan,  Mordecai 
Salom,  and  then  enjoying  the  able  services  of  the  scarcely  less 
popular  Hazan,  Isaac  Almosnino ;  but  he  was  elected  Hazan  on 
the  12th  of  August  (10th  Menahem)  of  the  same  year,  an  appoint- 
ment upon  which  the  congregation  ever  after  saw  cause  to  con- 
gratulate themselves.  On  the  20th  of  May,  1819,  he  was  married 
to  Rebecca,  eldest  daughter  of  the  Haham,  Dr.  Meldola.  Born 
in  Florence,  the  minister's  young  bride  joined  to  her  native 
musical  Italian  an  intimate  knowledge  of  the  Spanish  and  other 
continental  languages,  and,  as  might  have  been  expected,  her 
Hebrew  and  religious  training  had  been  specially  promoted  and 
not  lost  sight  of  in  the  acquisition  of  the  various  accomplishments 
of  her  sex.  Nurtured  in  that  cheerful  piety,  loftiness  of  thought, 
and  thorough  culture  of  heart  and  mind  which  the  training  of 
her  gifted  parents  was  designed  fully  to  develop,  she  was  a  fit- 
ting helpmeet  for  the  newly  appointed  minister.  But  it  was 
her  unbounded  loving  devotion  to  her  husband  through  his  life, 
her  total  negation  of  self  for  him  and  for  their  children,  which 
caused  him  ever  to  regard  her  as  the  light  of  his  eyes  and  his 
chief  blessing  on  earth.  If  ever  home  was  happy  and  blessed  to 
the  last  hour  of  wedded  life,  it  was  theirs. 

Having  entered  on  the  discharge  of  his  official  duties,  he  con- 
tinued to  perform  them  with  zeal  and  punctuality.  At  the  same 
time,  his  efibrts  were  directed  to  the  attainment  of  the  English 
language  and  literature  with  which  he  had  been  but  slightly  ac- 
quainted. In  this  he  succeeded  most  surprisingly,  even  during 
the  first  year  of  his  appointment,  as  his  correspondence  suffi- 
ciently shows ;  and  in  furtherance  of  this  object  he  collected 
around  him  an  extensive  library  of  standard  English  works.  In 
these  studies,  and  in  the  exercise  of  the  duties  of  his  office,  he 
employed  the  first  ten  years  of  his  appointment,  when,  having 
received  intelligence  of  the  serious  indisposition  of  his  father,  he 
prepared  to  revisit  the  home  of  his  youth.  After  the  usually 
prolonged  and  comfortless  journey  of  that  period,  he  arrived  at 
Rotterdam  April  3,  1821,  where  he  received  alarming  tidings  of 
\ 


BIOGRAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA.  15 

his  father's  state.  He  left  the  follomng  day  for  Amsterdam 
Mfith  melancholy  forebodings.* 

He  went  to  one  of  his  uncles,  from  whom  he  learned  that  his 
father  still  lived,  but  that  three  of  the  most  eminent  physicians 
who  were  attending  him  had  declared  him  incurable.  His  uncle 
having  duly  prepared  the  invalid,  a  xerj  affecting  interview  took 
place  betAveen  the  father  and  son.  The  visit  seems  to  have  "had 
a  very  beneficial  influence  on  the  patient,  and  quite  exhilarated 
him."  He  rallied,  but*  died  on  the  12th  of  the  following  June, 
about  two  months  after  his  son's  return  to  London.  During  the 
stay  of  the  latter  in  Amsterdam  he  writes :  "  The  reception  I 
met  here  from  all  is  most  flattering,  and  I  have  not  a  moment  to 
myself."  On  the  Sabbath  he  was  accompanied  to  the  Synagogue, 
and  a  seat  among  the  Velhos  appropriated  to  him.  He  had  to 
devote  one  entire  day  to  the  reception  of  the  immense  congrega- 
tion, among  whom  came  to  greet  him  not  a  few  of  his  Ashkenazi 
friends.  The  same  cordial  welcome  was  given  him  when  he  re- 
visited Amsterdam  (July  29,  1825),  the  London  Synagogue  then 
undergoing  repairs,  and  not  re-opening  for  public  service  till  the 
9th  of  September  of  the  same  year.f 

In  1829  appeared  his  first  published  work,  "  The  Blessings," 
with  an  introductory  essay  on  Thanksgiving.^   Laying  down  the 

*He  writes:  "I  tremble  at  every  footstep  I  take  towards  home;  for  God 
knows  what  I  shall  find  there."  On  his  arrival  at  Amsterdam  he  writes:  "I 
reached  here  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morning.  I  cannot  possibly  describe  to  you 
with  what  feelings  I  again  entered  my  native  city,  not  daring  to  enter  our 
house  abruptly,  and  not  knowing  whether  I  should  embrace  my  father  alive 
or  be  obliged  to  bewail  him.  You  may  suppose  what  I  felt  when  I  reached 
our  door  where  I  stood  like  one  enchanted,  and  as  if  I  would  have  inquired 
from  the  stones  of  the  house  the  situation  of  my  father.  Being  early  in  the 
morning,  few  people  were  yet  stirring,  and  of  these  I  was  afraid  to  inquire, 
expecting  to  hear  the  worst." 

*  Though  divine  service  was  performed  in  the  smaller  buildings  of  the  con- 
gregation. 

f  r\1D"13  IID  "The  Blessings;"  or,  expressions  of  praise  and  thanksgiving 
said  by  Israelites  on  various  occasions,  with  an  interlineary  translation,  ac- 
companied with  an  explication  of  their  source,  the  precepts  and  DTT  (regu- 
lations) attached  to  them,  and  explanatory  notes.  To  which  is  prefixed  an 
introductory  essay  on  the  nature  and  duty  of  thanksgiving."  London,  Wert- 
heimer,  Barnet  &  Soloman,  5590-1829.  8vo. 


16  BIOGRAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA. 

rule  that  it  is  "  desirable  to  collect  a  variety  of  useful  matter 
within  a  small  compass,  and  to  divest  it  of  the  austere  garb  of  a 
professed  book  of  instruction  without,  at  the  same  time,  detract- 
ing from  its  usefulness,"  he  designed  the  work  to  be  "  a  book  of 
religious  information  as  well  as  a  manual  of  private  devotion." 
He  states,  in  a  lucid  manner,  the  origin  of  the  various  precepts, 
explains  the  same,  and  adds  much  useful  matter  for  those  unable 
to  consult  the  original  Hebrew.  The  interlinear  system  of  trans- 
lation is  adopted  in  the  text  in  order  to  give  some  "  insight  into 
the  construction  and  idiom  of  the  Hebrew,  and  to  incite  to  the 
study  of  those  rules  of  grammar  by  which  a  competent  knowledge 
of  the  sacred  language  might  be  obtained."  The  origin  of  the 
subject  and  plan  of  the  work,  he  gratefully  mentions,  originated 
with  Moses  Montefiore,  Esq.,  (afterwards  Sir  Moses  Montefiore), 
to  whom  he  was  afterwards  no  less  indebted  for  the  generous 
support  he  gave  to  his  published  works  than  for  countless  proofs 
of  a  warm  an  enduring  friendship.* 

The  Essay  on  Thanksgiving  renders  this  work  particularly 
valuable.  It  is  written  in  that  terse,  vigorous  style  which  he 
always  retained,  and  at  once  called  the  attention  of  the  anglo- 
Jewish  community  to  him,  and,  we  believe,  gave  no  small  impetus 
to  the  organization  niin  *iix  m^n,  when  he  associated  with  Dr. 
Joshua  van  Oven,  Michael  Josephs,  Selig  Newman,  and  others, 
in  maintaining  this  Hebra  as  an  adult  school.  We  have  before  us 
a  communication  to  him,  dated  March  7,  1830,  from  the  manag- 
ing committee,  who,  being  "  desirous  of  continuing  the  delivery 
of  religious  and  instructive  lectures  on  Saturdays  at  the  Jews' 
Eree  School,  and  quite  assured  of  his  excellent  talent  for  that 
purpose,  request  the  favor  of  his  services  for  20th  March." 

*  They  were  both  doubtlessly  anxious  to  introduce  something  that  should 
usefully  substitute  the  old  system  of  ladinariiig ;  and  although  Hannaniah 
BolaiFey  had  published  one  part  or  number  of  his  m /Pliin  miO,  or  "Extracts 
from  the  Prayers,"  with  an  interlinear  translation,  yet  he  did  not  proceed 
with  his  work.  Mr.  B.  was  author  of  a  very  good  Hebrew  grammar  and 
primer,  was  a  good  linguist  and  Hebrew  writer,  and  was  for  some  time 
teacher  at  Eton  College,  and  Hebrew  master  of  the  Sephardim  schools  in 
London. 


• 


BIOGRAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA.  17 

The  same  year  his  co-operation  was  solicited  by,  and  given 
to,  "  The  Society  for  the  Cultivation  of  the  Hebrew  Language 
and  Literature,"  his  co-laborers  being  Michael  Josephs,*  Dr. 
Van  Oven,t  Arthur  Lumley  Davids,!  Marris  Jacob  Raphall,§ 
Selig  Newman, II  and  others.  The  present  venerable  Sampson 
Samuel  was  secretary  of  the  society.  His  services  were  rewarded 
by  the  warm  acknowledgments  of  the  committee,  and  a  solicita- 
tion "  for  the  repetition  of  his  favors,  the  continuance  of  which 
would  enable  the  society  to  look  forward  to  the  future  with  hope 
and  confidence."  His  subject  was  "Sacred  Biography  as  con- 
nected with  Hebrew  Literature,"  on  which  he  gave  three  lec- 
tures, the  continuation  being  in  the  following  session  (Oct.  31), 
all  of  which  were  duly  acknowledged  in  very  flattering  terms. 
His  success  in  this  department  seems  to  have  determined  some 
intelligent  members  of  his  congregation — among  whom  were  the 
Mahamad  or  vestry — to  realize  their  wish  for  the  introduction 
of  occasional  English  discourses  in  the  Synagogue.  On  his  as- 
senting to  their  wish,  the  first  English  sermon  ever  heard  within 
the  walls  of  the  ancient  Portuguese  Synagogue  in  London  was 
delivered  by  him  on  Sabbath  Hagadol,  12th  Nissan,  5591,  (26th 
March,  1831,)  before  a  large  and  admiring  audience.  As  reli- 
gious discourses  had  been  hitherto  of  very  unfrequent  occur- 
rence, and  invariably  delivered  in  the  Spanish  or  Portuguese 
languages,  the  preacher  found  himself  in  a  more  than  ordinary 

*  Author  of  the  English-Hebrew  Lexicon,  i&c.  He  lectured  on  the  book 
of  Job. 

f  Author  of  the  Manual  of  Judaism,  &c.  He  was  one  of  the  original  pro- 
jectors and  founders  of  the  Jews'  Free  School. 

X  Author  of  the  Turkish  Grammar,  &c.  His  lecture  was  on  the  Philosophy 
of  the  Jews.     Published  in  1833,  early  after  his  death. 

^  Here  commenced  his  intimacy  with  the  learned  Kaphall,  his  subsequent 
co-laborer.  Dr.  Raphall  then  gave  one  lecture  on  Hebrew  Poetry,  which  we 
believe  afterwards  grew  out  to  that  course  to  which  so  many  have  listened. 
Mr.  De  Sola  cordially  compliments  him  in  his  own  lecture. 

II  Author  of  Emendations  of  the  Scriptures,  Hebrew  Grammar,  Lexicon, 
Challenge  Accepted,  &c. 


18  BIOGRAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA. 

embarrassing  position,     "VVe  will  quote  from  his  introduction  to 
the  printed  discourse,*  his  own  description  of  its  origin  : — 

"  The  gentlemen  elders  of  the  congregation,  impressed  with 
these  truths  (just  referred  to  by  him),  and  ever  ready  to  promote 
the  spiritual  improvement  of  the  congregation,  finding  that, 
owing  to  the  change  of  times  and  circumstances,  the  religious 
instruction  hitherto  given  in  the  Synagogue  in  the  Spanish  lan- 
guage had  ceased  to  be  useful,  since  that  language  is  at  the 
present  day  no  longer  understood  by  the  greater  portion  of  those 
members  of  the  congregation  who  are  natives  of  this  country, 
resolved  that  in  future  sermons  in  the  English  language  should 
be  delivered,  in  order  to  aiford  the  congregation  religious  in- 
struction in  the  only  way  it  could  prove  useful.  Some  gentle- 
men of  that  body  did  me  the  honor  to  declare  their  opinion  that 
they  considered  me  fit  to  execute  their  laudable  intention ;  and 
although  I  was  deeply  impressed  with  the  arduousness  of  the 
task  required  of  me,  and  justly  difiident  of  any  capacity  to  do  it 
justice,  yet  hoping  that  the  purity  of  my  intention,  and  the 

*  A  Sermon  on  the  Excellence  of  the  Holy  Law,  and  the  Necessity  and 
Importance  of  Keligious  Instruction.  London,  H.  Barnett  and  M.  Solomon, 
1831.  This  sermon  and  the  auspicious  occasion  called  forth  the  following  beau- 
tifully written  eulogy  of  the  preacher,  by  an  anonymous  hand.  We  believe 
it  was  the  production  of  his  esteemed  friend,  the  venerable  Michael  Josephs : 

'nipj  mpj :  };\!/"\  Qh\if  'w  nSiD  n  nn  pn  nn  ipn  ^'di^d  i^'k  niaob 

]wb2  hijtyn  iDiD;?aty'7nppiy  Bf£ij  nmn  d3  idj;j  'Dynan  'n;'Dty  ij:;ix  naiyj 

'rsD^2  nx  f)  na'ux  ^n-iox  u'ly'i  'b  rni  yhrz  pnoo  'rro;?L3  ^jjx  ^x  o  iv"^  omro'? 

;  'xSd  )T2\ff)  'jxtana  u/'x  ^anx  nxo  mjmh  ii  nn^ni  mim  nanx  nnjo 

•\bbr]'  |nty'  ']nv  ynx 

niSnpD3  mtya  pn::  o  r\}? 

mSnj3  r\Dhr\  nn:  did  np*? 

n>n  ^n2^2)  nrn  nna  \n 

n^'Djy  px  "'"7;?  nston  d;>j 

D^'Dtyn  r\1SJ'^^  annj^n  njnoa 

;  rhy) — phr\D:  "-nx  rhnsi 


IDIXJ  IJ^Dtyi  3p;r'  '22  ^nn^T] 

:  iD;r  pty^a  inan  i3jn  dx: 


BIOGRAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA.  19 

beauty  and  holiness  inherent  in  the  subject  on  which  I  was  to 
treat,  might  induce  an  indulgent  audience  of  my  brethren  to 
look  leniently  upon  the  imperfections  of  a  first  attempt,  joined 
to  the  desire  of  marking,  by  a  prompt  obedience,  my  sense  of 
the  honor  conferred  on  me  by  their  request,  I  was  induced  to 
make  an  effort  to  surmount  all  difficulties ;  and  the  result  was 
that  I  found  I  had  not  miscalculated  upon  the  forbearance  and 
indulgence  of  my  brethren,  since  my  attempt  was  honored  with 
their  approbation."  On  page  1  we  are  made  acquainted  with 
the  feelings  which,  when  standing  up  to  speak  to  the  people, 
*' agitated  and  almost  overpowered"  him.  He  asks  that  due 
allowance  should  be  made  for  them,  because  of  the  peculiar  diffi- 
culties attending  his  undertaking,  the  honor  and  perhaps  also 
the  boldness  of  raising  his  feeble  voice  within  those  holy  walls 
which  had  so  often  resounded  with  the  eloquence  of  great,  wise, 
and  pious  men,  to  address  an  audience  so  numerous  and  well 
informed  as  he  then  felt  honored  in  behaloing.  The  nature  of 
the  subject  on  which  he  was  to  speak,  diffidence  of  his  qualifica- 
tions to  do  it  justice,  dread  of  criticism  of  all  kinds,  the  appre- 
hension of  the  imputation  of  vain  presumption,  together  with  the 
many  other  difficviltics  inseparable  from  a  first  attempt — all  these 
were  sufficient  to  appal  even  the  stoutest  heart,  and  claim  indul- 
gence "in  the  prosecution  of  his  ncAV  career — new  not  only  to 
me  but  in  some  degree  also  to  yourselves,  this  being  the  first  day 
on  which  a  sermon  was  ever  pronounced  within  this  holy  place 
in  the  language  of  this  country." 

His  next  published  sermon  *  (and  it  is  only  to  his  published 
sermons  that  we  shall  now  refer,  giving  a  list  of  those  in  MS. 
hereafter)  was  on  the  "Consolation  of  Jerusalem,"  delivered  on 
Sabbath  Nahamu  (Menahcm  11,  5693— July  27,  1833).  This 
was  just  before  those  dark  days  when  many  a  family  in  England 
needed  consolation,  his  own  not  excepted ;  for  on  his  return  in 
August  from  Amsterdam,  where  he  had  piously  proceeded  to 
visit  his  parents'  graves  (ni2N  I3p),  he  received  the  overwhelming 
intelligence  that  one  of  his  sons  had  been  snatched  from  him 
after  a  few  hours'  illness  only  by  Asiatic  cholera,  then  devastat- 

*  "The  Consolation  of  Jerusalem,"  a  sermon  &c.,  printed  by  the  express 
desire  of  the  gentlemen  of  the  Mahamad.   London,  Wertheimer,  5594. 


# 


20  BIOGRAPHY  OP  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA. 

ing  London.  Only  the  preceding  year  he  had  followed  to  the 
grave  an  infant  son.  His  pious  resignation,  however,  enahled 
him  to  recover  from  what  was  a  very  terrible  shock  to  him.  His 
public  duties  also  tended  to  engage  him  from  his  private  griefs ; 
and  when  Dr.  Raphall  started  his  "Hebrew  Review,"  in  1834, 
he  took  a  lively  interest  in  its  success,  and  contributed  some 
literary  assistance.  One  article  in  volume  iii.  (p.  381,  et  seq.) 
was  called  forth  from  his  observing  in  Peter  Beer's  GrescJiichte 
aller  Sekten  der  Juden,  his  partiality  for  the  Caraites,  and  his 
scarcely  disguised  hostility  to  the  Talmud,  which  led  him  to 
represent  Caraitism  in  a  much  better  light  than  is  conformable 
with  truth.  His  pulpit  duties  also  claimed  much  of  his  atten- 
tion. He  was  sought  now  to  make  English  discourses  a  perma- 
nent institution.  Thus  the  Mahamad  resolved  that  at  least  once 
a  month  discourses  should  be  delivered  by  Hazan  De  Sola  during 
the  year  5595  (1835),  and  a  notice  to  that  effect  Avas  duly  pub- 
lished and  sent  to  the  members.  The  twelve  sermons  were  de- 
livered in  due  course.  • 

The  same  year  appeared  his  proposals  for  a  new  Translation 
of  the  Portuguese  Prayers.  In  a  prospectus  of  four  octavo  pages, 
he  lays  down  four  main  rules  for  his  guidance  in  translation,  and 
to  which  he,  in  fact,  strictly  adheres  in  his  work.  The  Hebrew 
text  was  most  scrupulously  collated  and  revised  from  the  best  con- 
tinental editions,  such  as  Athias,  Silva  Mendes,  Ilodrigues  Men- 
des,  Templo,  Heidenheim,  &c.,  and  the  important  particular  of 
a  clear  and  perfect  vowel  punctuation  rigidly  attended  to.  In 
the  English  translation,  that  of  David  Levi  was  taken  as  a  basis; 
but  this  was  very  generally  departed  from,  when  the  author's 
study  of  the  original,  aided  by  a  careful  comparison  with  Haliam 
Nietto  in  Spanish,  Fiorentino  and  Ottolenghi  in  Italian,  Ventura 
in  French,  Euchel  and  Friedlander  in  German,  and  other  conti- 
nental translators,  rendered  it  desirable.  D.  Levi  was  unable 
to  avail  himself  of  the  advantages  of  these  translations,  and,  as 
truly  stated  in  this  prospectus,  was  "  very  unsuccessful  in  trans- 
fusing the  spirit  and  beauty  of  the  original," — though  Levi's 
work  (5519-1789),  as  cordially  admitted,  was  "  the  first  deserv- 
ing the  name  of  a  translation," — the  incompetent  efforts  of  Gam- 
liel  ben  Pedaazur  and  A.  Alexander  not  meriting  notice  but  as 


BIOGRAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA  21 

first  attempts.  The  former  editions  being  out  of-  print,  it  was 
deemed  a  proper  opportunity  to  prevent  defective  editions  being 
multiplied  by  mercenary  booksellers  ;*  and  he  was  induced  to 
undertake  the  task,  urged  thereto  by  many  gentlemen  of  zeal, 
taste,  and  ability,  but  chiefly  by  Sir  Moses  Montefiore,  who  very 
munificently  supported  this,  as  he  did  his  previous  and  subse- 
quent publications.  The  "additional  matter"  of  this  edition  is 
stated  under  ten  heads,  one  of  which  is  the  valuable  tabular 
matter  with  which  this  edition  was  enriched. 

The  work  f  on  its  appearance  was  received  with  the  utmost 
satisfaction  and  approval  on  the  part  of  his  congregation,  the 
universal  opinion  being  that  expressed  by  one  of  the  leading 
members,  that  "  it  conferred  infinite  credit  on  him  and  lasting 
obligation  on  the  part  of  the  community."  It  received  the  warm- 
est laudations  also  of  the  German-Jewish  press  (there  was  then 
no  Jewish  periodical  in  England).  The  Algemeine  Zeitung  des 
Judenthuvis  (Beiblatt,  2  J.  No.  13)  devotes  five  of  its  quarto 
columns,  and  again  two  columns- (April  30,  1839),  to  a  review 
of  the  whole  work,  "  which,"  writes  the  editor,  "  has  made  on  us 
one  of  the  most  agreeable  impressions."  Farther,  he  says:  "That 
in  England  the  Portuguese  community  should  become  sensible  of 
the  want  of  a  good  translation  of  their  liturgy  is  not  be  wondered 
at,  as  they  have  been  so  deficient  in  this  respect.  It  is  pleasing, 
then,  to  see  that  this  undertaking  has  fallen  into  the  hands  of 
Mr.  De  Sola,  and  that  it  has  obtained  so  much  support.  *  * 
A  number  of  names  of  old  and  illustrious  families  appear  among 
them,  and  Jamaica,  United  States,  Sydney,  Montreal,  &c.,  have 
received  their  copies.  *  *  *  The  characteristics  of  Mr.  De 
Sola's  translation  are  clearness  and  perspicuity.  *  *  *  jjj 
taking  this  laborious  task  on  himself,  Mr.  De  Sola  has  rendered^ 
himself  highly  meritorious  to  the  English-Portuguese  Synagogue, 
and  its  results  will  doubtless  prove  beneficial  to  that  community. 

*  See  the  preface. 

f  Forms  of  Prayer  according  to  the  customs  of  the  Spanish  and  Portuguese 
Jews,  with  an  English  Translation.  To  which  are  added  tables,  forming  a 
complete  Hebrew  Almanac,  from  A.  M.  6596-1830,  till  the  year  5646-1886. 
London,  5596-1836,  J.  Wertheimer.  An  edition  of  the  Daily  Prayers,  all 
Hebrew,  was  published  in  the  same  year. 


22  filOGRAPIIY  OF  DAVID  AAROX  DE  SOLA. 

The  author,  in  a  beautifully  written  preface  of  sixteen  pages  to 
volume  one,  offers  first,  some  thoughts  on  praj^r  in  general,  then 
a  short  history  of  our  liturgy,  and  treats  finally  of  the  various 
translations  of  the  prayers  for  the  Spanish  and  Portuguese  Jews. 
*  *  *  Of  the  Adon  Olam  he  has  given  a  metrical  transla- 
tion." 

Without  entering  into  a  full  examination  of  this  work,  we  may 
add  to  what  the  German  reviewer  has  stated,  that  one  feature 
presented  is  the  valuable  notes  with  which  it  is  interspersed,  both 
at  the  foot  of  the  pages  and  in  supplemental  form.  The  tabular 
matter  at  the  end  of  the  first  volume,  forming  an  almanac  for 
fifty  years,  exhibits,  of  course,  a  close  intimacy  with  the  Jewish 
calendar  system,  and  was  itself  a  labor  of  no  slight  character. 
We  will  also  not  dwell  upon  the  extensive  intimacy  with  Rabbini- 
cal literature  which  his  rendering  of  the  Piyutim  for  Kippur, 
Roshashana,  and  the  Festivals  indicate;  we  refer  only  to  the 
laudatory  terms  in  which  the  German  reviewer  speaks  of  his 
translation  of  the  Keter  Malchuth  of  R.  S.  ben  Gabirol  in  the 
third  volume.*  To  this  translation  he  added  an  introduction,  in 
which,  after  a  brief  notice  of  the  author  and  design  of  the  poem, 
he  points  out  the  diiSerence  between  the  Copernican  and  Ptolemaic 
systems,  on  which  latter  the  astronomical  references  of  the  poem 
are  based,  adding  an  astronomical  table  for  the  purpose  of  com- 
paring and  rectifying  modern  calculations  and  those  received  in 
the  days  of  Gabirol.  Dr.  S.  I.  Mulder,  in  Amsterdam,  printed 
on  his  model  an  edition  of  the  Daily  Prayers  in  Dutch  in  the 
same  year,  and  refers  in  most  complimentary  terms  to  his  Lon- 
don prototype,  and  copies  all  the  tables.  But  though  a  close 
copy,  even  in  mechanical  execution,  yet  it  is  in  every  respect 
inferior,  the  London  edition  still  remaining  the  most  beautiful 
specimen  of  Hebrew  printing  extant,  and  only  equalled  by  the 
second  edition,  which  the  translator  subsequently  undertook  of 
the  same  work.  Both  HebrcAV  and  English  type  were  new.  The 
Hebrew  was  cut  expressly  for  the  work  by  the  celebrated  firm 
of  Messrs.  Alexander  Wilson  &  Sons,  Glasgow,  and  the  matrices 
were  copied  from  the  letter  of  Athias,  as  being  the  best  specimen 

*  The  erudite  Dukes  also  refers  to  his  translation  of  this  poem.  J.  Chr., 
Vol,  V,  No.  34. 


BIOGRAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLAt  23 

of  printed  Hebrew  attainable.  It  has  now  almost  eiltirely  super- 
seded all  other  fonts  in  England.  The  printing  of  the  work 
reflected  the  highest  credit  on  the  oflice  of  Wertheimer,  and  was 
chiefly  performed  by  Messrs.  Samuel  Meldola  and  Coppe  Green. 

This  work,  though  of  great  magnitude,  did  not  distract  his 
attention  from  his  newly  imposed  pulpit  duties ;  and  accordingly 
we  find,  that  on  26th  Kislev,  5597,  (1837,)  the  elders  passed  a 
resolution,  conveyed  to  him  by  Hananel  De  Castro,  Esq.,  the 
President,  assuring  him  of  "their  thanks  and  entire  approbation 
of  the  very  able  manner  in  which  he  had  delivered  his  sermons 
during  the  past  and  preceding  years." 

During  the  outbreak  of  the  Druses  in  Safet,  &c.,  in  1838,  he  was 
employed  in  translating  correspondence,  reports,  &c.,  afiiecting 
the  Israelites  of  the  Holy  Land.  This  year  was  also  an  eventful 
one  for  the  Hebrew  community  in  England.  A  growing  desire 
for  change  in  the  Synagogue  worship,  and  perhaps  also  for  cere- 
monial observances,  had  been  for  some  time  manifest  on  the  part 
of  many  leading  members  of  both  Sephardim  and  Ashkenazim. 
A  choir  was  introduced,  first  in  the  Portuguese  and  afterwards 
in  the  German  Synagogue,  but  not  with  general  approval.  Sus- 
picious of  the  length  to  which  the  reform  leaders  desired  to  go, 
a  large  conservative  party  had  determined  to  oppose  all  conces- 
sions to  what  they  deemed  mere  clamor;  and  this  produced  an 
antagonism  Ayhich  resulted  in  the  formation  of  the  Burton  Street 
congregation.  We  have  before  us  a  very  complete  report  of  a 
meeting  of  the  Yehidim,  held  at  the  Mahamad  Chamber,  in 
Heshvan,  1838,  being  the  notes  taken  by  Hazan  De  Sola,  who 
was  present  as  a  Yahid  of  the  congregation.  It  exhibits  the 
prevalence  of  an  unfortunate  spirit  of  contention  from  which  no 
good  result  could  possibly  follow.  At  this  meeting,  a  proposi- 
tion was  made  for  the  appointment  of  a  committee,  in  which  the 
Hazanim  were  to  be  included,  "  to  inquire  into  the  propriety  of 
altering  or  curtailing  the  prayers,  and  to  supply  more  regular 
religious  instruction."  The  stormy  discussion  which  arose  there- 
upon was  but  the  prelude  to  others  of  a  more  violent  character ; 
and  organizations  were  formed  out  of  the  meetings  on  both  sides. 
One  of  these  called  tynpn  mDB'O  nDsy,  or  "  Society  for  supporting 
and  upholding  the  Jewish  religion  as  handed  down  to  us  by  our 


24  BTOGRAPUY  OF  DAVID  AAllON  Dtl  SOLA. 

ancestors,  and  for  preventing  innovations  or  alterations  in  any 
of  its  recognised  forms  and  customs,  unless  sanctioned  by  pro- 
perly constituted  religious  authorities,"  was  formed  almost  imme- 
diately after  the  meeting  above  mentioned,  and  its  founders 
issued  a  circular  inviting  co-operation  on  26th  Heshvan,  (14th 
November)  1838.  This  agitation  originated  Mr.  De  Sola's  next 
literary  work,  the  translation  into  English  of  eighteen  treatises 
of  the  Mishnah.  Some  three  years  after  the  completion  of  the 
MS.,  Mr.  Benjamin  Elkin,  a  zealous  member  of  the  Burton 
Street  congregation,  put  the  work  to  press,*  and,  without  the 
knowledge  or  consent  of  the  translator,f  added  an  anonymously 
written  preface,  and  announced  the  publication  of  the  work  in  the 
Times  of  23d  December,  1842.  This  preface  states  the  origin 
of  the  work  to  be  in  consequence  of  the  discussions  at  the  Yestry 
Board  of  the  Sephardim,  when  the  reform  party  "urged  the  ne- 
cessity of  being  supplied  with  an  English  translation  of  the 
Mishnah  from  persons  of  their  own  faith.  In  consequence  of  this 
application,  the  meeting  passed  a  resolution  authorizing  the  Rev. 
D.  A.  De  Sola  to  translate  the  Mishnah.  Mr.  De  Sola  having 
been  empowered  to  call  in  a  coadjutor  made  choice  of  the  Rev. 
M.  J.  Raphall."  Mr.  Elkin,  we  find,  had  been  no  party  to  the 
articles  of  agreement  drawn  up  between  the  translators  and  the 
original  projectors  of  the  work.  Of  the  latter,  only  two  names, 
Moses  Mocatta  and  Horatio  J.  Montefiore,  appear.  Upon  the 
publication  of  the  advertisement,  the  translators  formally  repu- 
diated (by  advertisement  in  the  Times  of  29th)  all  connection 
with  the  work,  "  which  they  had  not  seen  since  they  completed 
the  translation  some  three  years  ago,  and,  consequently,  had  not 
been  revised  or  prepared  by  them  for  publication."  They  add, 
"that  the  prospectus  and  preface  were  not  written  by  them,  and 
that  they  were  in  every  way  unconnected  with  the  publication  of 
the  work." 

*njU'D  mo  HB'B'D  ninDDD  n"'  nvwo,  "Eighteen  Treatises  of  the  Mish- 
nah, translated  by  the  Kev.  D.  A.  De  Sola  and  the  Eev.  jVI.  J.  Kaphall." 
London,  Sherwood,  Gilbert  &  Piper,  1842. 

f  And  also  without  the  knowledge  of  the  projectors  of,  and  parties  to,  the 
translation,  as  communications  from  these  to  Mr.  De  Sola  clearly  show. 


BIOaRAPHT  OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA.  26 

During  tlie  six  days  intervening  the  two  advertisements,  we 
find  from  a  formal  disclaimer  sent  to  the  Jewish  press,*  that  the 
translators  say,  "  We  procured  the  work,  and  find  from  the  cur- 
sory view  we  have  given  to  it  that,  as  our  translation  was  hur- 
ried through  the  press  without  our  knowledge,  it  has  not  under- 
gone that  revision  and  correction  which  even  the  most  carefully 
executed  work  requires,  and  was  brought  under  the  public  eye 
with  all  its  imperfections.  *  *  *  *  ^^i  when  we  see  that 
the  attempt  is  made,  under  the  sanction  of  our  names,  to  foist 
on  the  public  a  spurious  preface — spurious,  because  not  written 
by  us,  or  even  with  our  knowledge,  and  expressing  sentiments 
we  do  not  entertain,  we  do  not  stay  to  examine  whether  this  un- 
fair proceeding  had  for  its  object  to  ruin  us  in  public  estimation, 
or  simply  to  obtain  for  the  anti-Judaic  principles  expressed  in 
the  preface  such  weight  as  our  names  might  be  supposed  to  im- 
part to  them."  "  The  anti-Judaic  principles  above  referred  to," 
adds  the  editor,  "  we  understand  to  include  a  covert  attempt  to 
bring  the  Mishnah  into  contempt  as  well  as  the  oral  law  which 
it  contains. "t  It  were  needless  to  review  the  controversy  which 
arose  on  this  subject.  Mr.  Elkin  issued  a  pamphlet  of  thirty 
pages,!  in  which  he  endeavored  to  show  that  no  discourtesy  was 
intended  the  translators,  though  in  perusing  this  pamphlet  after 
so  long  a  lapse  of  time,  one  cannot  but  be  surprised  how  a  gen- 
tleman, who  in  his  day,  was  so  generally  and  deservedly  re- 
spected, should  have  allowed  his  zeal  to  outrun  his  discretion  and 
sense  of  strict  justice. § 

In  1840,  Mr.  De  Sola  issued  a  prospectus  of  a  new  edition  of 
the  Sacred  Scriptures,  with  notes  critical  and  explanatory.    His 

*  "  Voice  of  Jacob,"  No.  87,  January  6,  1843. 

+  The  editor  remarks,  "  We  know  the  preface  was  ascribed  to  them  by 
cursory  readers." 

X  Letters  addressed  to  the  editor  of  the  "Voice  of  Jacob,"  &c.,  by  the 
writer  of  the  preface  to  the  lately  published  Mishnah.  London,  J.  "Wert- 
heimer,  1843. 

§  An  ostensible  publisher  advertised  subsequently  in  the  Jewish  papers  that 
the  Kev.  translators  were  not  connected  with  the  publication.     The  preface 
has  an  italicised  passage  referring  to  the  expressive  silence  of  Scripture  with 
reference  to  an  oral  law. 
D 


26  BIOGRAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA. 

literary  co-laborer  was  again  Dr.  Raphall,  while  the  correction 
of  the  Hebrew  text  and  the  publishing  department  was  entrusted 
chiefly  to  Mr.  I.  L.  Lindenthal,  Secretary  of  the  new  Synagogue. 
The  prospectus,  embracing  a  brief  history  of  former  translations, 
was  in  itself  a  valuable  literary  production,  and  wa8  republished 
in  Germany  by  Dr.  Filrst  in  his  Orient^  (No.  52,  December  20, 
1840),  when  welcoming  the  publication.  We  will  only  quote 
from  this  prospectus  some  details,  in  order  to  show  the  plan  of 
the  work,  which  was  executed  in  strict  conformity  therewith. 

"  The  Hebrew  text  will  be  printed  with  the  most  scrupulous 
attention  to  correctness  in  every  particular,  and  will  be  carefully 
collated  with  lall  the  acknowledged  authorities.  In  the  English 
translation  we  will  endeavor  to  combine  elegance  with  perspe- 
cuity,  and  a  strict  adherence  to  the  literal  meaning  of  the  text. 
Our  model  in  this  respect  will  be  Mendelssohn's  version,  and 
like  him,  we  shall  carefully  avail  ourselves  of  the  Targumim,  and 
of  the  various  commentaries  and  translations.  Ilespccting  the 
notes,  it  is  intended,  in  order  to  assist  the  reader  without  dis- 
tracting his  attention,  to  give  explanatory  notes  at  the  bottom 
of  each  page,  and  at  the  end  of  each  weekly  section  to  append 
notes  illustrating  the  following  subjects  : — 1.  Explanations  of  the 
precepts  as  they  respectively  occur  in  each  section,  particularly 
of  those  in  use  at  present.  2.  Critical  and  grammatical  investi- 
gations, reconciling  apparent  contradictions,  solving  questions, 
and  removing  difficulties  that  present  themselves  in  the  text. 

3.  Moral  reflections  and  inferences  to  be  deduced  from  the 
events  related  in  each  weekly  section,  which  will,  in  some  de- 
gree, supply  the  want  of  religious  instruction  in  our  Synagogues. 

4.  Sacred  geography,  geology,  and  natural  history  of  the  Bible, 
manners  and  customs  of  the  East,  &c.  Under  this  head  will  be 
collected  the  best  of  all  that  has  appeared  in  modern  publications 
on  these  subjects — travels  in  the  Holy  Land,  together  with 
whatever  information  ancient  writers  have  bequeathed  to  us. 
The  whole  of  the  notes  will  be  selected  from  an  immense  variety 
of  sources  and  authorities,  in  all  languages,  both  ancient  and 
modern." 

The  plan  of  the  work  received  the  formal  approval  of  the  Rev. 


BIOGRAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA.       ^  27 

Dr.  Meldola,  Chief  Rabbi  of  the  Portuguese,*  and  of  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Solomon  Hirschel,  Chief  Rabbi  of  the  German  congregation. 
Its  importance  was  duly  recognised  by  the  Jewish  press,  and 
regarded  as  a  pleasing  sign  of  the  times. f  Its  first  number, 
which  appeared  in  September,  1841,  created  a  profound  sensa- 
tion also  in  Christian  literary  circles,  "  it  being  the  first  work  of 
the  kind  ever  issued  in  England  by  learned  Jews  ;"  and  the 
translators  were  overwhelmed  with  letters  of  congratulation 
from  all  classes.  High  dignitaries  of  the  church  showed  their 
interest  in  the  undertaking,  though  perhaps  no  one  was  more 
deeply  interested  in  its  progress  than  the  Rev.  George  Becket, 
a  learned  and  amiable  divine  and  cordial  friend  of  Jewish  eman- 
cipation. The  completion  of  the  first  volumej  (consisting  of 
seven  hundred  and  ten  pages  8vo.)  elicited  the  same  cordial  com- 
mendations of  the  press. §  It  was  a  matter  of  deep  regret  to  all 
that  the  publication  was  not  farther  continued.  The  chief 
causes  of  its  discontinuance  we  believe  to  have  been  the  irresu- 
larity  of  those  entrusted  with  its  publication,  and  the  unwilling- 
ness of  Mr.  De  Sola  to  continue  so  grave  a  literary  undertaking 
by  himself  when  Dr.  Raphall  had  removed  to  the  pastoral  charge 
of  the  Birmingham  congregation,  though  we  find  that  Mr.  Lin- 


*  This  revered  Rabbi  writes  in  a  periodical  of  which  he  was  co-editor 
{Jewish  Chronicle,  1st  Series,  Ko.  11,  January  28.  1842) :  "It  will  be  to  this 
generation  of  Israelites  the  most  valuable  book  they  can  possess.  The  choicest 
passages  have  been  culled  by  master  hands  from  our  most  eminent  commen- 
tators, and  translated  into  English,  so  that  the  great  difficulty  to  the  perfect 
understanding  of  the  holy  law  is  removed. 

f  See  "Voice  of  Jacob,"  No.  1,  an  article  by  the  erudite  Theodores  in  No. 
2,  and  a  review  in  No.  3,  &c. 

X  n  min  "^33  The'Sacred  Scriptures,  in  Hebrew  and  English;  a  new  trans- 
lation, with  notes  critical  and  explanatory,  &c.,  vol.  1,  Genesis.  London, 
Bagster,  1844. 

^  Jewish  Chronicle,  January  3,  1845. — Even  at  the  Antipodes  the  same 
note  was  heard.  A  Christian  writer  in  Sydney  adopts  the  opinion  of  another 
London  Christian  critic,  that  "the  book  is  one  of  extraordinary  learning," 
and  "  the  result  will  open  up  sources  of  interest  and  inquiry  for  readers  of 
every  faith."  "  Such,"  he  adds,  "  is  the  natural  effect  of  true  learning.  It 
does  not  labor  to  become  exclusive  and  sectarian."  See  Australian,  June  2, 
1842,  and  the  Sydney  "  Voice  of  Jacob,"  June  24,  1842. 


28  BIOGRAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA. 

denthal  is  said*  to  have  asserted  that  "it  was  not  continued  for 
the  want  of  that  support  which  such  a  work  had  a  right  to  ex- 
pect." The  list  of  contents  shows  the  work  to  have  been  pretty 
equally  divided  between  Messrs.  De  Sola  and  Raphall,  one  sec- 
tion only  having  been  translated  and  annotated  by  Mr.  Linden- 
thai.  In  5603  (1843)  they  issued  another  edition  of  Genesis,! 
being  the  English  translation  without  the  Hebrew  text  and  notes, 
the  only  difference  between  these  two  versions  being,  that  in  the 
larger  work  they  give  the  Scriptural  names  in  accordance  with 
the  orthography  of  the  Hebrew  text,  and  in  the  second  they 
retain  the  ordinary  mode  of  spelling  these  names. 

While  engaged  in  a  work  of  so  grave  a  character,  his  literary 
aid  was  sought  and  cheerfully  rendered  to  an  effort  originating 
with  the  late  excellent  and  amiable  Charlotte  Montefiore,  to 
supply  the  humble  classes  of  Israelites  with  interesting  and  in- 
structive reading.  The  pious  design  of  this  lamented  lady  was 
carried  out  in  conjunction  with  her  sister  and  Mr.  De  Sola,  and 
the  "  Cheap  Jewish  Library"  appeared.  The  first  volume  con- 
sisted of  seven  moral  and  religious  tales,  or  as  in  the  "Evenings 
in  Judea,"  in  the  second  volume,  useful  information  is  conveyed 
in  the  form  of  a  dialogue  on  the  Geography  of  Palestine,  His- 
tory and  Antiquities  of  the  Jews,  &c.  Of  the  design  of  the 
work,  the  authoress  says :  "  Amongst  the  many  means  that  have 
hitherto  been  employed  to  inculcate  religious  truths  and  princi- 
ples of  morality,  none  have  proved  more  eflficient  than  the  pub- 
lication of  tracts  in  the  form  of  tales  conveying  instruction  and 
entertainment.^  The  position  of  the  worthy  authoress  enabled 
her  to  publish  them  at  a  pecuniary  loss,  a  nominal  price  having 
been  put  upon  each  number,  while  it  was  announced  at  the  same 
time,  that  they  might  be  obtained  for  the  poor  by  application  to 

*  See  letters  of  N.  H.  Solomon,  S.  C,  «S;c.,  in  the  Jewish  Chronicle,  Decem- 
ber, 1852.  This  periodical  frequently  copied  the  notes  of  the  work.  Some 
letters  on  the  Egyptian  names  occurring  in  the  Scriptures  from  Dr.  Loewe  to 
Kev.  D.  A.  De  Sola  were  not  published.     See  preface. 

•)■  The  Sacred  Scriptures  ;  translated  from  the  original  Hebrew,  &c.  Lon- 
don, ,  5603. 

X  Several  of  the  tales  were  reprinted  in  America,  as  soon  as  they  appeared, 
by  the  Jewish  Publication  Society  of  Philadelphia.  They  were  also  repub- 
lished by  several  periodicals. 


BIOGRAPHY  OP  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA.  29 

the  Rev.  D.  A.  De  Sola,  who,  in  a  letter  to  a  friend,  gives  the 
following  account  of  their  publication  : 

*  *  *  "  Therefore  they  essayed  what  good  could  be  done 
by  the  publication  of  moral  tracts  in  the  attractive  garb  of  tales 
for  Jewish  readers.  They  commenced  by  printing  two  hundred 
and  fifty  copies  of  each  of  the  four  first  tales,'  which  were  pub- 
lished at  one  penny,  or,  when  they  exceeded  two  sheets,  at  two 
pence  each.  It  is  not  necessary  to  state  to  any  one  acquainted 
with  printing,  that  this  was  tantamount  to  giving  them  away. 
But  these  ladies  wisely  judged,  that  what  was  given  away  was 
either  looked  upon  with  suspicion  or  neglected ;  whereas,  if  the 
class  for  which  it  was  intended  were  to  .make  the  sacrifice  of  even 
a  penny  to  buy  it,  it  would  show  that  they  appreciated  it,  and 
that  they  had  a  desire  for  useful  literature.  They  had  the  gra- 
tification to  see  that  the  said  small  impression  was  soon  ex- 
hausted, and  another  edition  of  five  hundred  (though  at  an  addi- 
tional sacrifice)  was  issued  by  them.  For  the  good  of  their 
humbler  brethren  these  ladies  continue  to  devote  their  talents, 
time,  and  means.  Their  strict  incognito  prevents  their  receiving 
the  thanks  of  their  brethren,  being  content  '  to  do  good  by 
stealth,  and  blush  to  find  it  fame.'  *  *  *  ^g  [^  -^^as  neces- 
sary that  some  one  should  attend  to  the  publication,  I  was  hon- 
ored with  their  confidence,  and  willingly  undertook  the  pleasing 
task  of  promoting  their  good  intentions." 

This  confidence  was  duly  respected,  and  the  incognito  of  the 
authoress  always  maintained  on  his  part.  It  may  be  permitted 
us  here,  however,  now  that  both  authoress  and  editor  have  been 
removed  from  their  earthly  labors,  to  show  by  some  extracts  from 
the  correspondence — written  currente  ealamo — of  this  most  wor- 
thy daughter  of  Israel  with  Mr.  De  Sola,  how  warmly  she  felt 
and  how  much  she  intended  to  do  had  she  been  spared  for  her 
people,  more  especially  for  that  humbler  class,  in  whom  all  her 
thoughts  and  sympathies  seemed  to  be  centered,  notwithstanding 
the  many  seductions  of  her  exalted  position  and  immense  wealth. 
She  writes  to  Mr.  De  Sola  thus : 

"  From  what  I  had  heard  of  your  general  kindness,  I  had  ex- 
pected that  my  project  would  come  in  for  a  share  of  it ;  but  I 
n£ver  could  tiavc  anticipated  that  you  would  take  so  deep  an 


30  BIOGRAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA. 

interest  in  its  success,  and  Be  willing  to  devote  so  mucli  time  to 
the  furtherance  of  it.     Nothing  could  have  given  me  so  much 
courage  to  proceed  as  the  knoAvledge  of  having  some  one  to  assist 
me,  who,  like  yourself,  has  so  intimate  an  acquaintance  with 
Jewish  character,  manners,  and  religion.     Pray  accept  my  sin- 
cerest  thanks  for  what  you  have  said  upon  the  subject,  and  for 
what  you  have  offered  to  do.  You  have  quite  excited  my  curiosity 
about  the  additional  things  you  wish  my  '  Letter  to  the  Jews '  to 
contain,  and  shall  feel  greatly  obliged  if  you  will  gratify  it  as 
soon  as  possible.     *    *    *    I  fear  I  am  exceedingly  deficient  as 
regards  the  habits  and  prejudices  of  the  Jews  of  the  working 
class.     This  may  affect  all  I  write,  Aveakening  its  utility  and 
depriving  it  of  a  character  of  reality  which  is  certainly  one  of 
the  greatest  charms  of  such  works.     By  an  earnest  study  of  the 
Bible  I  may  learn  all  what  the  Jews  ought  to  he,  and,  derived 
from  that  sacred  source,  I  trust  my  delineations  of  good  jnay 
always  be  correct.     To  trace  what  they  are  requires  a  different 
study.     I  must  be  indebted  to  you  if  I  do  so  at  all  faithfully.    I 
intend  to  make  it  a  personal  study ;  but  this  will  demand  time. 
Upon  such  points  of  religion  as  can  hardly  be  treated  in  tales, 
I  purpose  writing  little  essays  or  discourses.     As  soon  as  any 
are  completed,  they  shall  be  forwarded  to  you  for  your  criticism 
or  approval ;  but  whatever  opinions  they  may  give  rise  to,  I 
hope  you  will  always  have  the  kindness  to  tell  me  quite  frankly, 
I  am  confident  that  I  shall  be  always  very  grateful  for  your  sug- 
gestions, which  will  be  to  me  of  great  utility,  and  contribute 
materially  to  the  success  of  my  undertaking.     *     *     *     j^  the 
approval  of  Mrs.  De  Sola  and  your  daughters  of  '  Rachel  Levi,' 
I  have  a  most  agreeable  guarantee  of  success,  which,  as  you  may 
suppose,  has  been  a  matter  of  great  doubt  and  anxiety  to  me. 
Will  you  be  good  enough  to  say  to  them  that  the  author  heard 
with  the  greatest  pleasure  that  they  took  some  interest  in  the 
story  of  the  orphan,  and  that  the  writer  hopes  their  good  wishes 
will  attend  Rachel's  entrance  into  the  world.     *    *    *    I  ought 
to  apologize  for  taking  up  so  much  of  your  time,  and  accepting 
your  kind  offer  of  devoting  still  more  to  my  service.     I  trust  it 
may  not  be  to  my  service  alone,  but,  with  the  Almighty's  bless- 
ing, prove  a  lasting  benefit  to  many  of  our  humble  Brethren.    In 


BIOGRAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA.  31 

this  case  you  will  need  no  tlianks  of  mine,  being  far  more  fully 
repaid  by  the  g,ood  you  will  have  effected."  On  another  occasion 
she  writes  Mr.  De  Sola :  "All  the  information  I  may  have,  all 
the  energy  and  perseverance  that  has  been  bestowed  upon  me,  I 
have  long  wished  to  consecrate  to  the  religious  good  of  our  poor 
brethren.  I  must,  I  know,  expect  to  meet  with  diflSculties ;  but 
these  I  hope  eventually,  by  patience  and  perseverance,  to  over- 
come. And  I  am  likewise  prepared  to  find  it  a  losing  concern, 
in  one  sense  of  the  Avord ;  but  if  it  should  be  of  real  utility  to  but 
even  a  very  few,  I  shall  be  amply  repaid.  My  task  must  remain 
incomplete,  unless  you  give  me  the  benefit  of  your  superior  abili- 
ties. With  another  undertaking  on  hand,  this  I  feel  is  request- 
ing a  service  I  can  never  hope  adequately  to  return ;  but  I  solicit 
it  with  confidence,  as  I  ask  it  for  the  welfare  of  those  to  whose 
interests  you  have  always  devoted  yourself."  She  was  very  de- 
sirous that  Mr.  De  Sola  should  establish  a  Jewish  periodical, 
and  says :  "  I  should  be  really  delighted  if  in  some  little  way  I 
could  promote  the  success  of  an  undertaking  likely  to  be  produc- 
tive of  so  extended  an  utility,  besides  the  pleasure  it  would  give 
me  to  be  able  to  do  any  thing  that  would  be  agreeable  to  one  to 
whom  I  am  so  much  indebted.  I  have  a  friend  who  writes  beau- 
tifully, and  who  would  be  willing  to  add  some  contributions." 

Mr.  De  Sola  was  very  desirous  that  Grace  Aguilar,  his  friend 
and  pupil,*  in  whom  he  ever  took  a  paternal  interest,  should 
contribute  to  the  "  Cheap  Jewish  Library,"  and  with  the  ready 
consent  and  the  encouragement  of  the  amiable  editress.  Miss 
Aguilar  wrote  the  "Perez  Family,"  which  duly  appeared  in  the 
series.  In  a  communication  to  Mr.  De  Sola  on  this  subject,  Miss 
Aguilar  says : 

"  But  in  a  Christian  country  we  should  rather  enlarge  on  the 
tenets  of  our  faith,  not  perhaps  so  much  for  our  own  people  as  to 
do  away  with  some  of  the  mistaken  notions  regarding  it  adopted 
by  other  creeds.  This  is  my  simple  opinion,  which  I  hope  you 
will  not  consider  too  free."  With  reference  to  the  Perez  Family, 

*  She  was  then  studying  Hebrew  under  Mr.  De  Sola,  and  was  always  ac- 
customed to  guide  herself  very  much  by  his  advice,  and  to  apply  to  him  for 
information  in  all  cases  of  doubt.  She  showed  her  respect  for  him  and  appre- 
ciation of  his  writings  by  frequently  quoting  from  them  in  her  works.  See 
"Spirit  of  Judaism,"  "Womon  of  Israel,"  &c. 


32  BIOGRAPHY  or  DAVID  AAROX  DE  SOLA. 

she  writes  on  another  occasion :  "  The  whole  tale  was  written 
while  sickening  for  and  recovering  from  a  severe  illness.  *  * 
I  still  indulge  the  hope,  however  fallacious,  of  one  day  seeing 
my  writings  more  known  than  they  are  now." 

Referring  to  this  effort  of  Miss  Aguilar,  the  amiable  editress 
writes  Mr,  De  Sola : 

"I  cannot  tell  you  how  much  pleasure  it  gives  me  to  have  seen 
something  by  one  of  our  co-religionists  that  is  so  good  as  Miss 
A.'s  story.  I  sincerely  congratulate  her  upon  having  the  means 
of  raising  some  time,  by  her  talent,  the  opinion  that  is  enter- 
tained of  Jewish  intellectual  abilities.  It  is  quite  a  satisfaction 
to  think  that  a  Jew  may  become  celebrated  for  something  else 
than  their  wealth  and  their  talent  on  the  stock  exchange.  Eor 
this  alone  it  would  be  worth  Miss  Aguilar's  while  to  devote  her 
energy,  time,  and  talents  to  the  cultivation  of  her  intellectual 
powers.  *  *  *  If  I  did  not  make  any  allusions  to  the  com- 
mendations Miss  Aguilar  bestowed,  it  Avas  not  from  indifference 
to  them,  but  because  agreeable  trtiths  are  always  known  to  be 
more  acceptable,  and  to  me,  who  am  still  very  anxious  as  to  the 
probable  success  of  my  arduous  undertaking,  particularly  so." 

We  cannot  say  that  the  wealthy  classes  of  our  English  co-reli- 
gionists followed  the  patriotic  example  of  our  worthy  authoress  * 
and  her  respected  sister.  Lady  Rothschild,  who  assisted  her.  One 
honorable  exception  to  this  remark  should  be  made.  Mr.  Haim 
Guedallah  published  his  "Sabbath  Leaves,"f  containing  sermons 
of  our  most  esteemed  divines  (among  them  he  announces  Rev.  D.  A. 
De  Sola) ;  but  after  publishing  some  five  numbers,  he  was  com- 
pelled to  relinquish  it  owing  to  the  extreme  apathy  of  the  people. 

*  This  pious  and  excellent  woman  died  July  2,  1854.  In  an  (^bituary  writ- 
ten on  what  was  every  where  deemed  a  national  loss,  the  writer  says :  *'  In 
an  afflicted  body  conversant  with  him,  the  deceased  harbored  a  mind  overflow- 
ing with  affection  to  its  kind,  and  constantly  solicitous  to  relieve  its  miseries. 
She  to  whom  physical  exertion  was  not  easy,  she  who  had  been  reared  in  all 
the  luxuries  of  life,  who  could  only  have  known  misery  from  hearsay,  she 
not  only  did  not  shrink  back  from  visiting  in  person  the  dingy  lanes  and 
dismal  hovels  where  wretchedness,  sickness,  and  its  concomitant  evils  revelled, 
but  delighted  to  appear  as  an  angel  of  mercy  in  the  abodes  of  poverty. — Heb. 
Observer,  July  7,  1854. 

f  "  Sabbath  Leaves,"  adapted  for  the  use  of  Jewish  families,  to  be  read  on 
Sabbaths,  &c.     London,  April,  1845. 


BIOGRAPnY  OP  DAVID  AAJION  DE  SOLA.  33 

On  the  return  of  Sir  Moses  Montefiore  and  his  worthy  lady 
from  their  patriotic  journey  to  the  East  in  behalf  of  the  perse- 
cuted Jews  of  Damascus,  a  solemn  service  was  held  in  the  Por- 
tuguese Synagogue  on  the  8th  of  March,  1841,  and  the  exten- 
sive edifice  was  crowded  to  its  utmost  capacity  by  the  elite  of 
the  Jewish  community,  besides  many  eminent  Cliristians.*  On 
this  occasion  he  was  selected  to  preach, f  and  while  he  duly 
dwelt  on  the  topic  appropriate  to  the  occasion,  he  did  not  fail  to 
refer  to  the  example  of  civil  and  religious  liberty  shown  by  the 
Sultan,  and  the  claims  Israel  as  a  people  had  thereto — a  topic 
"which,  when  the  report  of  his  sermon  appeared  in  the  London 
press,  was  duly  taken  by  them  as  a  hint  that  England  "should 
go  and  do  so  likewise,"  and  improved  by  the  liberal  portion  of 
the  press  for  the  special  behoof  of  those  who  still  persistently 
opposed  Jewish  emancipation.  That  emancipation  was  a  subject 
in  which  he  had  intense  interest  is  sufficiently  demonstrated  by 
his  writings  and  correspondence  ;  though  he  had  too  high  a  sense 
of  the  dignity  of  his  office  to  allow  himself  to  appear  in  public 
as  a  political  orator.  In  connection  with  a  few  friends,  he  was 
instrumental,  during  the  following  year  (1842),  in  organizing  an 
"Association  for  the  promotion  of  Jewish  Literature."  We 
quote  the  following  exposition  of  the  design: 

"It  would  be  supererogatory  to  dilate  on  the  benefits  to  be 
derived  from  the  promotion  of  Jewish  literature  by  a  general 
circulation  of  the  valuable  works  which  daily  issue  from  various 
presses  without  limitation  of  language,  but  which,  owing  to 
several  circumstances,  it  is  but  in  the  power  of  a  few  to  obtain. 
The  Rev.  D.  A.  De  Sola,  Mr.  Lindenthal,  and  Dr.  Benisch 
have  been  elected  S,  provisional  committee,"  &c.  And  again,J 
"  The  attention  which  is  now  forced  upon  Jews  throughout  the 
civilized  world  is  well  known.  It  is  owing  to  this  attention  that 
eminent  men  are  constantly  laying  down  in  highly  valuable  pub- 

*  In  the  splendid  piece  of  plate  presented  as  a  testimonial  to  Sir  Moses,  he 
had  the  honor,  in  company  with  his  colleague,  to  be  represented,  as  they  stood 
near  Sir  Moses  when  the  latter  repeated  the  Agomel.  C"  Voice  of  Jacob," 
vol.  ii.  p.  18.^ 

f  The  "Orient,"  (25th  May,  18il,)  refers  in  laudatory  terms  to  this 
discourse. 

X  "Voice  of  Jacob,"  vol.  ii.  Nos.  32  and  3i. 
E 


84  BlOaRAPHT  03?  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA. 

lications  the  result  of  their  researches  and  reflections  on  Israel. 
It  is  clear  that  Israel  itself,  the  object  of  this  attention,  should 
be  acquainted  with  what  is  said  of  it." 

This  organization  was  not  more  permanent  than  the  "Jews 
and  General  Literary  and  Scientific  Institution,"  at  Sussex  Hall, 
subsequently  started  under  the  presidency  of  Hananel  De  Castro, 
Esq.  In  this  he  also  took  great  interest  from  its  commencement. 
Thus  we  find  him  assisting  at  the  opening  of  the  lecture  season, 
and  on  many  other  occasions ;  and  although  his  multifarious  du- 
ties prevented  his  giving  the  more  active  assistance  he  desired, 
yet  he  was  represented  in  the  committee  of  management  by  his 
son,  and  through  him  made  many  useful  suggestions,  assisting  the 
classes  with  books,  &c.  In  the  early  part  of  the  year  1843,  his 
colleague,  the  Rev.  Isaac  Almosnino  was  attacked  with  a  very 
painful  malady  which  incapacitated  him  from  the  performance  of 
his  duties,  and  which  terminated  fatally  on  Friday,  16th  Tamooz, 
(14th  July)  of  the  same  year.  The  decease  of  Hazan  Almosnino 
Avas  a  source  of  much  grief  to  him,  and  on  him  devolved  the  per- 
formance of  the  last  sad  rites.  "  The  reverend  colleague  of  the 
departed,  (Mr.  De  Sola,)  who  read  the  prayers,  was  deeply 
affected,"  writes  the  Jewish  Reporter."^  Indeed  he  was  losing' 
the  daily  companion  of  a  quarter  of  a  century,  and  one  whom  ho 
had  always  regarded  and  treated  with  respectful  consideration 
and  warm  friendship.  His  official  duties  were,  therefore,  now 
considerably  increased ;  and  as  the  Synagogue  was  to  be  re- 
opened, after  a  thorough  repair,  on  Friday,  22d  September,f  the 
training  of  a  choir,  in  conjunction  with  Mr.  Saqui,  was  super- 
added to  his  other  duties.  During  these  repairs,  the  regular  ser- 
vices were  continued  in  the  Mahamad  and  Medras  buildings,  and 
until  the  appointment  of  the  Rev.  David  Piza,  he  was  assisted  by 
Mr.  Judah  Mudahi,  and  his  son,  Abraham.  On  the  12th  May, 
1844,  he  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  realized  a  project  in  which 
he  was  much  interested, — the  opening  of  an  infant  school  for  the 
children  of  the  congregation,  erected  at  the  cost  of  Mrs.  Lara. 
On  this  occasion  "he  addressed  the  children  a  suitable  admoni- 

*  "Voice  of  Jacob,"  vol.  ii.,  No.  51. 

f  "  The  Voice  of  Jacob,"  vol.  iii..  No.  5G,  contains  an  account  of  this  "  im- 
pressive ceremony." 


BIOGRAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  J)E  SOLA,  85 

tion  and  exhortation,  which  "was  conceived  in  a  spirit  worthy  of 
the  occasion,  as  we  arc  still  better  able  to  affirm  from  a  more  de- 
liberate perusal."* 

In  this  year  Mr.  Abraham  Mendes,  of  Kingston,  Jamaica,  ar- 
rived in  England,  with  the  design  of  completing  his  Hebrew  and 
theological  studies  under  Mr.  De  Sola.    Mr.  Mendes  was  chiefly 
urged  to  this  step  by  his  friends  from  the  fact  that  three  English- 
men who  had  gone  to  tbe  West  Indies  to  fill  the  ministerial  office 
had  successively  died  of  the  yellow  fever.     Mr.  Mendes,  in  con- 
junction with  his  fellow-student,  Abraham  De  Sola,  pursued  his 
theological  course  under  Mr  De  Sola,  until  the  autumn  of  the 
year  1S46,  when  he  was  appointed  minister  of  Kingston,  Jamaica; 
and  Abraham  De  Sola  was  appointed  at  the  same  time  to  the 
ministry  of  Montreal,  Canada.  And  if  the  public  labors  of  these, 
his  loving  disciples,  have  been,  or  shall  hereafter  be,  at  all  in- 
strumental in  promoting  the  spiritual  weal  of  their  brethren,  or 
disabusing  the  Gentile  mind  of  the  erroneous  notions  it  is  wont 
to  entertain  of  Jews  and  Judaism,  to  his  patient,  learned  teach- 
ings, to  his  valuable  advice,  above  all,  to  his  excellent  practical 
example,  will  they,  under  God,  refer  all.     For  the  writer  may 
assert  with  respect  to  both,  that  the  influence  of  his  admonitions 
will  ever  be  with  them  to  urge  them  on  to  all  the  farther  activity 
and  usefulness  of  which  they  may  be  capable.     On  the  departure 
of  his  son  from  England,  he  accompanied  him  to  Portsmouth, 
where  he  gave  him  his  parting  blessing — his  last  spoken  blessing, 
for  they  never  met  again. 

The  year  1847  will  be  long  remembered  in  Great  Britain  for 
the  misery  it  entailed,  as  a  year  of  scarcity,  on  thousands  in  all 
parts  of  the  kingdom.  On  Wednesday,  24th  March,  "  being  the 
day  appointed  by  her  Majesty  as  a  general  fast,"  a  solemn  ser- 
vice was  held,  at  which  he  officiated,  and  pronounced  a  discourse 
that  was  most  favorably  noticed  by  both  Jewish  and  Christian 
press.  The  sermon  was  printed  by  the  Mahamad.  Another  dis- 
course, spoken  on  the  death  of  Miss  Abigail  Lindo,  authoress  of 
the  Hebrew  Lexicon,  was  "  so  very  superior  to  the  usual  produc- 
tions of  this  kind"  that  the  editor  of  the  Anglo-Jevmh,  Magazine 
published  it  in  his  October  number,  and  the  editor  of  Ber  Orient 

*  "Voice  of  Jacob,"  vol.  iii.,  No.  74. 


36  BIOGRAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA. 

deemed  it  worthy  of  translating  into  German.*  The  only  preach- 
ers in  the  London  orthodox  Synagogues  on  the  occasion  above 
referred  to,  we  believe,  were  himself  and  Dr.  Adler,  Chief  Rabbi 
of  the  German  Congregations  ;  and  we  may  state  here  that  with 
this  respected  Rabbi — at  whose  installation  he  had  assisted — he 
always  maintained  the  most  friendly  relations,  as  he  did  with 
his  predecessor,  and  with  all  the  leading  members  of  the  Ashke- 
nazim.f  Thus,  it  was  a  source  of  great  satisfaction  to  him  when 
Dr.  Adler  visited  the  Portuguese  Synagogue  on  Sabbath  Besha- 
lach,  February,  1849,  and  was  entertained  at  a  banquet.  On 
this  occasion,  he,  in  conjunction  with  the  officers  of  his  congre- 
gation, gave  expression  to  a  most  cordial  welcome  to  the  respected 
guest.  But  we  shall  proceed  now  with  our  enumeration  of  a  few 
of  the  evidences  of  his  activity,  giving  them  but  a  brief  notice. 

In  April,  1849,  he  announced  his  intention  of  issuing  a  second 
edition  of  his  translation  of  the  Sephardim  Prayers.  He  added 
various  new  features  to  this  edition,  while  all  the  excellencies  of 
the  old  were  retained.  In  the  first  volume,  which  appeared  in 
1852,  the  calendar  was  continued  to  the  year  1902.  The  me- 
chanical execution  of  this  edition  was,  as  before,  all  that  could  be 
desired.  It  was  dedicated  to  Sir  Moses  and  Lady  Montefiore,  who 
evinced  the  same  interest  in  this  as  they  did  in  the  first  edition.  On 
the  15th  of  November  of  this  year,  (1849,)  "being  the  day  ap- 
pointed by  her  Majesty  as  a  general  thanksgiving  for  the  removal 
of  the  cholera,"  he  delivered  a  discourse  that  was  not  only  pub- 
lished by  the  Maharaad,  but  very  fully  reported  in  both  Jewish 
and  Gentile  journals.  His  remarks  on  the  exemption  of  the  Jews 
from  this  scourge,  and  the  reasons  assigned  therefor,  based  on 
references  to  rabbinical  authorities,  were  particularly  noticed ; 
and  suggested  a  series  of  articles,  written  by  his  son,  in  the 
Canada  Medical  Journal,  on  the  "  Sanitary  institutions  of  the 
Hebrews."  In  June,  1850,  we  •find  him  again  assisting  at  the 
formation  of  a  Jewish  literary  society.     His  address  at  the  pre- 

*  Literatur-Blatt,  Jan.  13,  1819. 

f  Thus,  at  a  meeting  when  the  subject  of  the  admission  of  certain  rejected 
deputies  was  discussed,  we  find,  (^Jewish  Chro7iicle,  1854),  •"'The  Eev.  Mr.  Do 
Sola  proposed  an  amendment  to  leave  the  matter  with  the  Mahamad  to  com- 
municate with  the  new  Synagogue  expressive  of  the  wish  of  the  Sephardim  to 
be  in  terms  of  love  find  ponce  with  all  their  brethren." 


BIOGRAPHY    OF   DAVID   AARON   d6    SOLA.  37 

liminary  meeting  was  specially  recommended  by  the  Jewish  press 
to  the  consideration  of  the  friends  of  the  society.  His  interest 
in  religious  education  was  farther  exhibited  in  the  same  month, 
when  he  assisted  at  the  examination  of  the  Jews'  Free  School ; 
and  about  the  same  time  his  name  was  announced  by  Mr.  Mitchell 
as  one  of  the  adjudicators  on  the  prize  essays  written  for  that 
gentleman.  On  Thursday  evening,  29th  September,  1853,  was 
consecrated  a  branch  Portuguese  Synagogue.  The  active  part 
he  took  in  the  preparations  for  this  event  will  be  seen  by  refer- 
ence to  the  Jewish  press  of  the  day.  We  may  state  here,  how- 
ever, that  he  composed  a  Hebrew  poem  for  the  occasion,  that  the 
melody  was  also  his  production,  so  the  translation  of  the  prayers, 
and  the  arran^rement  of  the  service.  The  acknowledo;ments  of 
the  whole  congregation  were  very  cordially  conveyed  to  him. 
On  Sabbath  Yithro  of  the  following  year  he  delivered,  at  the  re- 
quest of  the  Mahamad,  a  sermon  "  which  well-deserved  to  be  dif- 
'  fused  in  wider  circles  than  that  to  which  it  was  originally  ad- 
dressed." .The  Jewish  Chronicle  having  published  it  in  full,  it 
was  not,  like  his  other  published  sermons,  issued  in  pamphlet 
form  by  the  Mahamad  ;  but  they  did  not  fail  to  convey  to  him 
their  acknowledgments,  as  on  former  occasions.  He  contributed 
the  same  year  to  the  Jewish  papers,  among  other  pieces,  a  very 
interesting  account  of  the  visit  of  the  King  ofcPortugal  and  suite 
to  the  Portuguese  Synagogue  at  Amsterdam.  'This  communica- 
tion was  read  before  a  meeting  of  the  London  Board  of  Deputies, 
who,  at  the  same  meeting,  took  action  to  bring  the  claims  of  the 
Jews  of  Spain  before  the  Cortes.  On  Thursday,  12th  April,  1855, 
the  Birmingham  Hebrew  Congregation  laid  the  foundation  stone 
of  their  new  Synagogue.  On  this  occasion  he  received  from  the 
executive  a  special  invitation  to  assist  in  the  arrangement  of  the 
service,  the  first  time  that  a  German  Congregation  in  England 
had  so  honored  a  Portuguese  minister.  For  this  occasion  he  also 
composed  a  Hebrew  ode,*  and  his  services  generally,  which 
afforded  the  highest  satisfaction,  were  handsomely  acknowledged, 
and  the  respects  of  the  congregation  duly  paid  to  him  at  the 
banquet  succeeding  the  ceremony.     On  the  completion  of  the 

*  Eeprinted,  with  a  metrical  translation  in  Dutch,  in  the  Nederlandsch 
Israelitische  Jarrhoekje,  1857,  by  Mr.  Belinfante. 


38  BIOaRAPHY  OP  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA. 

building,*  he  revisited  Birmingham  by  invitation  to  assist  at  the 
consecration,  for  which  he  composed  another  Hebrew  ode,  and, 
as  before,  met  with  a  most  cordial  welcome  from  all.  In  Decem- 
ber of  the  same  year,  he  completed  a  biography  of  the  celebrated 
Isaac  Samuel  Reggio.  This  was  written  by  him  in  Dutch,  for 
the  Society  "  Tot  Nut  der  Israeliten,"  in  the  Netherlands,  of 
which  he  had  been  elected  an  honorary  member — an  honor  then 
conferred  only  on  Dr.  Sommerhausen,  of  Brussels,  besides  him- 
self. This  was  published  in  their  organ,  the  TijdscJirift,  and 
covered  forty-eight  closely  printed  octavo  pages.  It  was  in  part 
translated  into  English,  for  the  Occident  magazine,  by  Jacob  J. 
Peres,  Professor  of  Oriental  Languages.  The  same  year  a  former 
pupil.  Miss  Miriam  Belisario,  issued  the  prospectus  of  her  "  Sab- 
bath Evenings  at  Home"! — a  work  of  a  very  high  order  of  merit, 
in  which  she  was  warmly  encouraged  and  assisted  by  Mr.  De 
Sola.  She  writes  she  "  has  submitted  her  humble  efforts  to  the 
religious  supervision  of  the  Rev.  D.  A.  De  Sola,  not  feeling  her- 
self justified  in  proffering  instruction  of  such  vital  importance  to 
her  co-religionists  on  her  own  unsanctioned  authority."  This 
work,  which  was  published  in  two  parts,  was  very  well  received, 
as  its  utility  deserved. 

In  1857,  Mr.  De  Sola  issued  the  prospectus  of  a  new  work, 
entitled  "  The  Ancient  Melodies  of  the  Liturgy  of  the  Spanish 
and  Portuguese  Jews,"  with  an  Historical  Essay  on  the  Poets, 
Poetry,  and  Melodies  of  this  Ritual. J  For  the  notation  of  these 
melodies  he  associated  with  him  Mr.  Emanuel  Aguilar,  an  artist 
and  composer  of  great  eminence,  and  brother  to  the  lamented 
authoress.  The  prospectus,  like  all  others  issued  by  him,  is  in 
itself  of  literary  value,  containing  as  it  does  a  brief  notice  of 
sacred  music  in  Israel.  We  cannot  now  refer  to  this,  but  quote 
the  following  to  show  the  design  and  contents  of  the  publication: 

*  Tijdschrift  van  de  Maatschappij  Tot  Nut  der  Israeliten,  deel  iii.,  No.  4. 

f  "Sabbath  Evenings  at  Home,  or  Familiar  Conversations  on  the  Jewish 
Religion,  its  Spirit  and  Observances,"  by  Miriam  Mendes  Belisario  Revised 
by  the  Rev.  D.  A.  De  Sola.     In  two  parts.     London  :  S.  Joel,  6616-1856. 

X  "  The  Ancient  Melodies  of  the  Liturgy  of  the  Spanish  and  Portuguese 
Jews,"  harmonized  by  Emanuel  Aguilar,  preceded  by  an  Historical  Essay, 
&c.,  by  the  Rev.  D.  A.  De  Sola.     London  :  Groombridgo  &  Sons. 


BIOGRAPHY    OF   DAVID    AARON    DE   SOLA.  39 

At  the  present  day,  however,  when  constant  attendance  in  Synagogue,  and 
the  use  of  Hebrew  devotional  hymns  in  private  families,  once  so  prevalent 
among  us — and  by  which  means  alone  these  melodies  were  acquired  and  orally 
transmitted — are  both  much  diminished  and  daily  decreasing,  it  is  greatly  to 
be  feared  that  in  a  few  years  our  sacred  music  will,  for  the  most  part,  be  en- 
tirely forgotten  and  lost,  which,  for  the  reasons  mentioned,  would  indeed  be 
a  lamentable  and  national  loss,  especially  as  few  among  those  who  have  heard 
these  melodies,  imperfectly  and  inharmoniou^ly  as  they  are  sung  in  almost 
every  congregation,  can  form  an  adequate  idea  of  their  beauty  and  effect  when 
properly  performed,  and  as  we  have  here  endeavored  to  present  them.  While 
these  causes  still  remain,  while  our  choirs  are  selected  from  musically  untaught 
persons,  while  new  congregations  constantly  arise  in  distant  parts  of  the  globe, 
■who,  as  well  as  private  individuals  and  families  everywhere,  would  gladly 
avail  themselves  of  those  fine  melodies  were  they  known  or  accessible  to  them, 
and  are  obliged  to  substitute  in  their  worship  new  compositions,  mostly  ill 
adapted  for  the  sacred  purpose  they  are  to  subserve,  deficient  in  dignity  and 
solemnity,  and  incongruous  with  the  rest  of  the  service, — a  work,  therefore, 
like  the  present,  which  will  prevent  that  loss,  possibly  remedy  that  decay,  and, 
in  the  universal  language  of  music,  can  address  itself  and  be  understood  in 
every  clime  and  country,  has  assuredly  a  claim  to  the  support  of  all  our  co- 
religionists. For  it  is  not  only  to  our  brethren  following  the  Sephardim  Bitual 
that  these  melodies  are  solely  interesting,  or  exclusively  appertain ;  even  as 
the  sublime  hymns  to  which  they  are  joined,  they  are  the  common  property 
of  all  Israel,  and  available  to  them  either  for  public  or  private  devotion.  This 
work  will  be  divided  under  the  following  general  heads : — 1.  The  most  ancient 
melodies,  or  those  whose  origin  is  supposed  to  be  prior  to  the  settlement  of  the 
Jews  in  Spain.  2.  Melodies  composed  and  adapted  in  Spain,  and  introduced 
by  them  into  the  various  countries  in  which  they  took  refuge  from  the  perse- 
cution of  the  Inquisition  in  the  Iberian  Peninsula.  3^.  The  ancient  melodies 
composed  since  that  period.  The  most  recent  of  these  inserted  is  at  least  a 
century  and  a  half  old. 

In  his  learned  work,  which  he  styles  "An  Historical  Essay  on 
the  Poets,  Poetry,  and  Melodies  of  the  Sephardic  Liturgy,'*  and 
which,  as  it  is  the  first  work  of  the  kind,  contains  a  rich  mine  for 
students  in  this  department,  introducing  them  as  it  does  to  all 
the  sources,  he  gives,  first,  the  history  of  the  hymns  and  poeti- 
cal pieces  inserted  in  the  liturgy  of  the  Sephardim,  their  struc- 
ture and  peculiarities ;  secondly,  an  account  of  the  principal 
authors  of  them,  and  of  the  times  in  which  they  flourished ;  and, 
thirdly,  he  states  what  he  has  been  able  to  collect  respecting  the 
melodies  with  which  they  are  combined.  He  classifies  the  melo- 
dies as  follows  ; — 1.  Morning  hymns,  of  which  he  gives  six.  2. 
Sabbath  melodies  and  hymns,  of  which  there  are  given  nineteen ; 
some  of  these  are  here  translated  into  English  for  the  first  time'. 


40  BIOGRAPHY    OF    DAVID   AARON    DE    SOLA. 

8.  Hymns,  &c.,  for  New  Year  and  Kippur,  of  which  we  have  eleven. 
4.  Festival  hymns,  of  which  there  ai'e  given  thirteen.    5.  Elegies 
for  Ninth  Day  of  Ab,  also  thirteen.     6.  Occasional  hymns,  of 
which  there  are  given  eight.     There  is  also  an  Appendix,  con- 
taining a  new  melody  for  Adone  Olam,  composed  by  himself,  and 
received  with  much  favor  by  Sephardic  Congregations  in  Eng- 
land, Holland,  and  America.     The  Essay,  which  is  a  conversa- 
tion of  most  valuable  lore,  and  could  only  have  been  written  by 
one  who  had  been  a  laborious,  painstaking  student  of  the  subject, 
drew  down  upon  him  most  unqualified  praise  from  the  Jewish 
literati  of  Europe.     Jewish  and  Christian  critics  alike  gave  the 
same  verdict.     The  Zeitung  des  Judenthums,  &c.,  in  Germany, 
the  Tijdschrift,  and  also  the  Weekblad,  in  Holland,  re-echo  the 
opinion  of  the  London  Chronicle,  that  "  the  antecedents,  the  edu- 
cation, and  the  calling  of  the  author  eminently  fitted  him  for  the 
task."    The  At?ienceum  and  the  Literary  Gazette  (November  14, 
1857),  contains  elaborate  and  flattering  reviews  of  the  work,  as 
does  the  Clerical  Journal  (December  8,  1857),  and  other  of  the 
leading  scientific  and  theological  magazines.     Our  limits  do  not 
allow  us  the  gratification  of  showing  how  these  organs  of  Christian 
learning  and  opinion  speak  of  the  Jewish  minister.    In  America, 
Christian  critics  were  not  less  complementary  than  the  Jewish 
press;  of  the  latter  the  K.ev.  Mr.  Leeser's  C^ccicZen^  contained  a 
review  running  through  three  consecutive  numbers.     The  Kev. 
Mr.  Isaacs,  of  New  York,  {Jeivish  Messenger,)  thanks  the  author 
for  "his  unparalleled  essay,"  which,  says  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wise,  of 
Cincinnati  {Israelite),   "displays   an  extraordinary  erudition." 
In  London,  the  well-known  William  Haslam,  in  the  interesting 
lecture  delivered  by  him  in  various  parts  of  England  on  the 
"History,  Beauties,  &c.,  of  the  Choral  Services  of  the  Synagogue 
of  the  Greek,  Latin,  and  Protestant  Churches,"  derives  most  of 
the  materials  of  his  first  lecture  "  On  the  Hebrew  Service"  from 
this  work.     In  the  unique  syllabus  before  us  he  mentions  some 
ten  pieces  from  Mr.  De  Sola's  work,  and  adds  explanatory  no- 
tices derived  from  the  same  source.     One  musical  piece  of  Mr. 
De  Sola's  composition,  the  Adone  Olam,  is  also  selected,  and  Mr. 
Haslam  styles  it  "  an  exquisitely  beautiful  specimen  of  modern 
Jewish  music." 


BIOGRAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  DB  SOLA.  41 

On  the  26th  of  December,  1859,  he  concladed  an  agreement 
•with  Mr.  Phillip  Vallentine,  Hebrew  bookseller,  who  had  urged 
him  to  undertake  for  him  the  translation  of  the  Prayers  of  the 
German  and  Polish  Machsor  ;  and  in  March  of  the  following 
year,  the  first  volume  of  the  new  edition — the  Passover  Prayers 
— appeared.*  The  space  of  time  thus  allowed  him  was  altogether 
too  short  for  so  laborious  and  difficult  a  task,  especially  when 
his  other  engagements  be  taken  into  consideration ;  but  with  this 
volume,  as  with  the  others,  the  publisher  feared  a  pecuniary  loss, 
unless  the  work  rapidly  appeared.  The  publisher's  plan  also  pre- 
cluded the  addition  of  notes,  rightly  deemed  by  the  author  indis- 
pensable. Some  few  however  were  printed  at  the.  end  of  the  volumes 
Mr.  De  Sola  had  published,  but  had  never  yet  been  published 
by  another ;  he  had  to  acquire  a  new  experience ;  and  we  doubt 
•whether  he  would  ever  have  consented  to  •write  in  a  similar  way 
again.  It  is  right  to  state  ho'wever,  that  Mr.  Vallentine  duly 
performed  his  part  of  the  agreement,  and  Mr.  De  Sola's  inter- 
course with  him  was  always  of  a  perfectly  harmonious  character, 
even  his  protests  against  the  hurryf  of  his  commercial  friend 
being  always  conveyed  in  words  of  jocose  remonstrance.  We 
■will  quote  from  the  Preface  to  the  first  volume  what  he  himself 
says  of  this  work  and  its  difficulties.  He  reserves,  he  says,  for  a 
future  opportunity  his  observations  upon  the  history  and  com- 
position of  the  German  and  Polish  liturgy  and  continues  : — 

"When  urged  to  undertake  this  task,  I  should  not  have  acqui- 
esced in  the  proposal,  if  I  had  not  been  promised  that  my  labors 
should  be  shared  by  Mr.  M.  H.  Breslau,  a  gentleman  of  well 
known  erudition,  from  whose  able  co-operation  I  undoubtedly 
expected  to  derive  effective  aid.  That  gentleman,  however,  soon 
perceived  that  the  great  labor  and  time  which  the  work  would 
demand  to  do  justice  to  its  importance,  would  considerably  inter- 
fere with  his  other  literary  engagements,  and  he  consequently 
felt  himself  compelled  to  relinquish  his  share  of  the  work  at  its 

*  "  The  Festival  Prayers  according  to  tlie  custom  of  the  German  and  Pg- 
iish  Jews,  with  a  new  English  translation,  by  the  Eev,  D.  A.  De  Sola.  Lon- 
don :  P.  Vallentine,  5620—1860." 

f  In  a  letter,  he  wittily  applies  to  thie  undue  pressure  the  textEzod.  v.  12— 

p 


^ 


42  BIOGRAPHY    OF   DAVID   AARON   DE   SOLA. 

very  commencement,  throwing  the  whole  burden  upon  myself 
alone.  I  must  own  that  I  did  not  form  at  the  outset  a  correct 
estimate  of  the  difficulties  attendant  upon  the  effort  to  supply  a 
proper  translation  of  the  German  Machsor.  It  was  only  as  I 
proceeded  that  these  difficulties  presented  themselves  successively, 
until  they  assumed  a  character  far  more  formidable  than  any  I 
had  encountered  while  rendering  into  the  vernacular  the  prayers 
of  the  Sephardic  Liturgy.  This  observation  is  intended  to  apply 
especially  to  those  poetical  passages,  Piyutim,  with  which  the 
German  Machsor  abounds,  the  difficulties  of  which  will  be  readily 
recognised  by  those  who  are  at  all  acquainted  with  the  style  of 
the  Franco-German  school  of  Hebrew  poetry  therein  found,  its 
ungrammatical  and  forced  construction  of  the  Hebrew — its  in- 
termixture of  the  sacred  language  with  that  of  the  Midrash 
(the  Aramean,)  and,  though  last  not  least,  its  brevity  and  obscu- 
rity of  expression.  These  characteristics  of  the  Piyutim  ren- 
dered a  succession  of  commentaries  indispensable,  and  originated 
various  and  very  divergent  readings  according  to  the  peculiar 
genius  of  each  successive  commentator.  Hence  it  is  that  a 
vast  number  of  notes  are  absolutely  necessary  in  order  to  con- 
vey with  accuracy  the  meaning  of  the  poet.  But  the  small  size 
of  this  edition,  and  the  fact  that  the  Hebrew  pages  were  already 
cast,  precluded  me  from  appending  notes  for  the  elucidation  of 
every  obscure  passage ;  and  in  many  cases  I  was  forced,  much  to 
my  regret,  to  consign  to  the  end  of  the  volume  indispensable  ob- 
servations, which  should  have  properly  accompanied  the  transla- 
tion. I  very  soon  found  that  I  could  make  but  little  or  no  use 
of  the  version  by  the  late  David  Levi,  unless  I  wished  to  propa- 
gate his  errors  both  of  language  and  sense,  and  that  conse- 
quently it  was  comparatively  easier  to  make  a  new  translation 
than  to  revise  and  correct  his.  My  labors  have  however  been 
-considerably  aided  by  the  perusal  and  comparison  of  the  able 
.versions  found  in  various  continental  languages,  especially  those 
in  German  by  the  celebrated  Heidenheira,  and  the  poetical 
paraphrase  of  the  eloquent  and  erudite  Dr.  Michael  Sachs.  Emi- 
nently useful  have  also  proved  the  Hebrew  commentaries  on  tho 
Piyutim,  and  the  translation  of  prayers  and  scriptural  passages 
found  in  various  languages,  which  were  either  inaccessible  to 


BIOGRAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA.  43 

David  Levi  from  his  non-acquaintance  with  these  languages,  or 
are  of  a  date  subsequent  to  the  period  in  -which  he  lived  and 
labored.  The  praise  of  having  been  a  laborious  and  conscien- 
tious translator  cannot  be  denied  to  that  learned  individual ; 
but  it  must  be  equally  admitted  by  all  that  his  version  is  often 
inelegant  and  obscure.  *  *  *  As  after  these  remarks  the 
reader  -will  naturally  be  surprised  at  seeing  portions  of  Levi's 
translation  in  these  pages,  I  deem  it  necessary  to  declare  here, 
what  will  be  found  reiterated  throughout  the  work,  that  I  posi- 
tively declined  to  translate  what  Heidenheim,  and  others  had 
omitted  from  their  versions ;  but  the  proprietor  preferred  to 
employ  Levi's  rendering  of  those  passages  to  the  alternative  of 
leaving  them  untranslated  as  in  the  continental  editions.  Every 
such  passage  will  be  found  emphatically  designated." 

The  reviews  of  this  work  were  of  a  very  flattering  character, 
but  we  shall  merely  quote  the  opinion  of  the  ripe  Hebrew  scholar, 
since  deceased,  to  whom  Mr.  De  Sola  refers  in  the  Preface  as  his 
intended  collaborateur.  Mr.  Breslau  in  his  "  Hebrew  Review" 
vol.  i,  p.  754,  says  "  The  translation  is  replete  with  remarkable 
improvements  upon  every  previous  version  in  the  English  lan- 
guage, manifesting  good  judgment  and  excellent  taste.  Having 
ourselves  labored  in  this  field  of  literature,  we  can  appreciate 
the  difficulties  of  the  task  to  render  cabalistic,  astrological  and 
allegorical  ideas  in  wliich  the  Piyutim  abound,  so  as  to  be  intel- 
ligible to  a  modern  reader,  and  to  make  sound  sense  of  the  com- 
position in  which  propriety  and  devotional  sentiment  have  been 
sacrificed  to  rhyme.  This  task  has  been  most  ably  and  skilfully 
performed  by  the  Rev.  D.  A.  De  Sola,  coping  with  the  difficulty 
of  producing  a  nearly  faithful  yet  judicious  version,  and  for 
which  the  reverend  translator  is  entitled  to  the  unqualified  grati- 
tude of  the  advocates  of  the  Piyutim  in  toto." 

Besides  the  works  already  mentioned,  he  produced  others  of 
lesser  magnitude.  We  will  presently  give  a  list  of  these ;  but 
first  Ave  would  proceed  to  show  that  they  were  not  the  produc- 
tions of  a  man  of  leisure,  but  of  one  whose  every  hour  was  de- 
manded by  numerous  other  engagements  and  actual  official  duties. 

The  indisposition  of  the  Sephardim  in  England  to  establish 
any  other  but  their  venerable  Synagogue  in  Bevis  Marks  formeci 


44  BIOGRAPHY    OF   DAVID   AARON   DE   SOLA. 

the  community,  until  recently,  into  but  one  large  congregation, 
greatly  increased  by  an  almost  daily  accession  of  adherents  to 
the  Minhag  from  all  parts  of  the  world — the  number  of  this 
floating  population  being  in  fact  considerably  larger  than  that  of 
the  residents.  The  births,  deaths  and  marriages  in  such  a  con- 
gregation would  necessarily  occupy  a  considerable  portion  of  his 
time,  dispersed  as  his  constituents  were  miles  distant  from  the 
synagogue  and  his  residence.*  And  besides  attendance  twice — 
in  the  early  summer  three  times  a  day  in  the  Synagogue — he  was 
also  Kazan  of  ]Iehra,-\  and  as  such  required  by  the  Ascama 
"to  accompany  to  the  grave  every  deceased  person,  and  say 
prayers  at  the  house  of  mourners  who  may  require  it  morning 
and  evening  during  the  seven  days  of  Abel."  In  the  winter 
months  he  was  required  to  attend  at  least  twice  a  week  at 
the  Medras  for  the  study  of  Haramham,  &c.  Here  the  good 
sense  and  proper  temper  which  characterized  his  share  of  the 
discussions  were  pre-eminent.  Instruction  in  the  Hebrew  lan- 
guage, literature  and  religion  also  occupied  no  inconsiderable 
portion  of  his  time.  Indeed,  his  residence  may  have  been  re- 
garded as  a  kind  of  normal  school  whereat  many  a  Jewish  minis- 
ter, some  now  in  office  both  in  England  and  the  colonies — the 
writer  gratefully  includes  himself  among  them — obtained  their 
chief  training. I  Besides  his  private  engagements  which  were 
very  numerous,  his  services  were  in  acquisition  at  various  times 
in  the  leading  schools  of  Solomons,  Neumegen,  Cohen,  &c.,  and 
for  many  years  were  regularly  continued  at  the  well-known  and 
excellent  establishment  of  the  Belisarios  at  Clapton.     The  in- 

*  A  communication  made  jointly  with  his  colleague,  Hazan  Almosnino  to 
the  Velhos,  says :  "  It  is  notorious  that  the  numerous  duties  of  the  Hazanim 
require  the  devotion  of  the  whole  of  their  time,  since  they  are  always  liable 
to  he  called  upon  for  the  performance  of  some  of  their  duties,"  &c. 

f  It  was  probably  in  virtue  of  this  office  that  we  find  him  assisting  at  a 
Presentation  by  that  pious  confraternity  the  "  Lavadores,"  to  their  venerable 
brother  Sir  Moses  Montefiore,  (Jew.  Chron.  xii.  15,_)— the  meetings  of  the 
brethren  being  generally  of  an  exclusive  character.  The  Manual  of  the 
Brethren  presented  by  Hermano  Isaac  Jalfon,  Esq.,  adopts  his  translation  of 
the  Psalms. 

X  His  youngest  son  Samuel,  the  present  talented  and  very  promising  Junior 
Incumbent  of  K.  K.  Shaar  Ashamaim  is  no  exception  to  this  statement. 


BIOGRAPHY  OP  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA.  45 

terest  he  took  in  the  communal  schools  was  evinced  by  his  fre- 
quent presence  on  private  as  well  as  public  occasions — on  the 
latter  he  was  generally  requested  to  act  as  Examiner.  In  the 
schools  of  his  own  congregation,  his  interest  was  of  a  more 
anxious  and  special  character.  This  is  evidenced  in  the  repre- 
sentations made  by  him  from  time  to  time  to  the  Elders  and 
others.*  The  secular  education  of  the  community  also  greatly 
engaged  his  attention.  Fully  appreciating  the  exclusiveness  of 
Oxford  and  Cambridge,  he  was  among  the  earliest  advocates  of 
the  non-sectarian  London  University,  and  when  the  corporation 
proposed  the  establishment  of  "  The  City  of  London  School" 
on  a  comprehensive  and  liberal  basis  in  1834,  besides  sending 
his  own  sons  among  the  earliest  pupils,  he  gave  it  his  most 
zealous  co-operation.  But  the  corporeal  as  well  as  the  spiritual 
and  mental  wants  of  his  flock  required  his  time  and  attention. 
His  office  of  Hazan  of  Hebra  brought  him  necessarily  in  contact 
with  much  misery  and  want.  To  make  himself  acquainted  with 
such  cases,  and  to  relieve  them  through  their  more  fortunate 
brethren,  he  always  used  his  best  endeavors.  Besides  the 
lamented  Lady  Judith  Montefiore,  there  were  other  noble  daugh- 
ters of  Israel,  some  still  living,  who  would  not  desire  their 
names  to  be  divulged,  who  determined  upon  a  systematic  scheme 
of  relief,  by  issuing  privately  through  Mr.  De  Sola  tickets  for 
food,  clothing  and  fuel.  The  issue  of  tickets  was  specially  made 
on  Fridays,  when  his  residence  presented  rather  the  appearance 
of  a  public  office  than  a  private  dwelling.  "  The  Sephardim 
Ladies'  Relief  Society,"  on  the  Committee  of  which  were  his 
daughters,!  received  its  full  share  of  his  sympathy  and  aid.  He 
was  one  of  the  first  projectors  of  that  excellent  Institution 
"  The  Soup  Kitchen  for  Jewish  Poor,"  and  the  interest  he  took 
in  this  his  favorite  chanty  was  indeed  very  great.  He  was  a 
permanent  member  of  the  Committee,  was  seldom  absent  from  its 
distributions,  and  always  contributed  as  liberally  as  he  could  to 
its  funds.     His  literary  labors  took  him  much  to  the  Library  of 

•  See  his  Plan,  &c.,  for  Jewish  Normal  School  and  letter  to  the  Velhos; 
also  his  address  on  the  laying  uf  the  foundation  Stone  of  the  JS^ational  In- 
fant School,  5603. 

t  Heb.  Observer,  Dec.  9,  1853. 


46 


BIOGRAPHY    OF    DAVID    AARON    DE    SOLA. 


the  British  Museum,  and  he  was  also  a  daily  visitor  at  the  Lon- 
don Institution,  where  besides  the  library,  there  were  the  best 
issues  of  the  Periodical  Press  to  claim  his  attention.     Literary 
men  whether  of  great  or  lesser  reputation,  and  from  all  quarters 
had  their  drafts  to  present  on  his  leisure ;  but  there  was  nothing 
in  which  he  so  much  delighted  as  this  intellectual   converse,  and 
he  sacrificed  much  to  it.     There  were  few  Jewish  literati  in 
England  or  on  the  Continent,  who  did  not  become  acquainted 
with  him — and  by  all  was  he  respected  and  esteemed.    The  same 
may  be  said  of  his  intercourse  with  Christians,  which  was  very 
extensive.*     We  are  in  possession  of  quite  a  mass  of  correspon- 
dence chiefly  from  the  most  eminent  Jewish  scholars,  all  of  a 
purely  literary  character,  and  so  valuable  as  well  to  deserve 
publication,  more  especially  the  communications  of  Drs.  Jost, 
Delitsch,  Furst,  Zunz,  Rapoport,  Asher,  &c.,  in  Germany;  Belin- 
fante,  Isaacson,  Bassan,  &c.,  in  Holland;  Carmoly,  Cohen,  &c.,  in 
France  ;  Loewe,  Zedner,  Raphall,  Dukes,  Picciotto,  and  numerous 
others  in  England. f     We  notice  particularly  the  correspondence 
of  Dr.  Jost,  because  it  refers  to  a  design  that  learned  man  had 
to  publish  an  English  translation  of  the  History  of  the  Jews, 
under  the  editorial  care  of  Mr.  De  Sola.     The  so-called  "  Pros- 
pectus" of  the  proposed  publication  contains  six  closely  written 
folio  pages.     The  learned  Doctor  imparted  his  design  while  on  a 
visit  chiefly  undertaken  for  the  purpose  to  Mr.  De  Sola  in  1841. 
We  are  not  quite  certain  of  the  reason  why  this  important  under- 
taking was  abandoned.     It  need  scarcely  be  said  that  this  elabo- 
rate prospectus  is  of  great  literary  interest.     With  reference  to 

•  We  cannot  deprive  ourself  of  the  pleasure  of  especially  mentioning 
Colonel  Moody  of  Waltham  Abbey,  Eev.  George  Beckel,  Captain  Boyse, 
Messrs.  W.  G.  Dresser,  and  the  Brothers  Frost. 

•f  Many  communications  are  in  Hebrew,  >vith  copies  of  his  replies.  One, 
exempli  gratia,  written  by  him  to  Dr.  Isaacson,  Chief  Eabbi  of  the  German 
Community  in  Rotterdam,  on  the  subject  of  D'^J  displays  a  facile  Hebrew 
pen  and  great  Talmudic  learning.  One  letter  is  written  (mirabile  dictu!) 
in  good  Hebrew,  by  a  young  lady  co-religionist,  the  late  worthy  Abigail 
Lindo,  when  sending  him  a  presentation  copy  of  her  Hebrew  Dictionary. 
Here  we  may  add  that  the  large  number  of  presentation  copies  sent  to  him  from 
all  quarters,  but.  more  especially  from  Germany,  shows  the  high  esteem  in 
which  he  was  held. 


BIOGRAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA.  4% 

it  Dr.  Jost  writes  (Frankfort,  o.  M.,  September  7,  1841):  "If 
it  does  not  entirely  displease  you,  there  is  permission  given  to 
you  both  to  change  phrases  and  expressions  as  you  like,  best,  or 
to  add  whatever  you  may  think  to  the  purpose."  Next  we  might 
refer  to  the  communications  of  Mr.  A.  Asher.  This  gentleman, 
his  warm  admirer  and  friend,  the  accomplished  translator  and 
annotator  of  Benjamin  of  Tudela,  was  head  of  the  well-known 
firm  of  Asher  Si,  Co.,  one  of  the  most  extensive  publishing  houses 
in  Berlin.  Mr.  xVsher  was  accustomed  to  make  periodic  visits — 
always  a  source  of  extreme  pleasure  to  Mr.  De  Sola  and  his 
family, — chiefly  to  make  collections  of  rare  Hebrew  and  Orientel 
works  for  the  Prussian  government.  On  these  occasions  he 
gladly  availed  himself  of  the  great  bibliographical  knowledge  of 
Mr.  De  Sola,  and  was  the  means  of  making  him  known  to  Bunsen 
and  other  German  celebrities.  Some  of  the  most  important  ac- 
quisitions of  Mr.  Asher,*  who  also  collected  for  the  British 
Museum,  were  in  consequence  of  his  friend's  aid  and  advice. 
The  gratitude  of  Mr.  Asher  was  shown  by  sending  him  every- 
thing that  appeared  in  Germany  in  the  domain  of  Jewish  litera- 
ture. In  this  connection  it  may  be  stated,  that  bibliographers 
were  accustomed  to  send  to  Mr.  De  Sola  scarce  and  valuable 
works  for  his  notice  and  opinion,  and  he  collected  for  his  own 
library  many  rare  printed  books  and  MSS.,  some  of  great  lite- 
rary value,  t 

A  farther  examination  of  such  of  his  correspondence  as  is  still 
preserved  shows  the  lively  interest  he  took  in  all  the  important 
Jewish  questions  of  the  day,  and  this  without  limit  of  language 
or  country.  Thus  we  find  Chief  Rabbi  Adler  thanking  him  "for 
his  lucid  and  ample  description  in  his  valuable  letter  which  Dr. 
Adler  would  forward  to  the  Chief  Rabbi  of  Gaya."  Various 
letters  from  Sir  Moses  Montcfiore,  acknowledge  in  cordial  terms 


*  Among  them  was  that  valuable  MS.  the  "'pSn'tJ  *)Sp3  nuno  in  two  folio 
•volumes. 

•j-  They  contain  the  Spanish  (fol. )  Verdad  de  la  ley  de  Moseh,  a  curious  col- 
lection of  Spanish,  Portuguese  MSS.,  a  beautifully  written  copy  of  the  Por- 
tuguese Prayers  in  English,  &c.  One  very  valuable  Spanish  MS.,  of  a  con- 
troversial character,  he  obtained  for  the  late  Gershom  Kursheedt.  (Se,e 
Occident,  vol.  svii,  No.  23.  , 


48  BIOGRAPHY    OF   DAVID   AARON   DE   SOLA. 

various  translations  and  other  literary  labors  performed  by  him, 
and  expressing  at  the  same  time  sentiments  of  peculiar  regard. 
We  find  Baron  Rothschild  thanking  him  on  one  occasion  "  for 
his  communication  which  would  aid  the  good  cause  in  the  prose- 
cution of  his  just  rights  and  in  the  vindication  of  civil  and  reli- 
gious liberty,"  and  again  addressing  him  upon  "certain  misre- 
presentations in  the  House  of  Commons  so  clearly  and  fully 
refuted  by  the  information  from  Holland  which  Mr.  De  Sola 
has  taken  the  trouble  to  obtain."  Another  subject  which  seems 
to  have  been  very  dear  to  him  was  the  return  of  his  co-religionists 
to  Spain  and  Portugal.  Here  we  find  some  most  interesting  in- 
formation imparted  by  his  friend  Joshua  Benoliel.  From  the 
United  States*  we  have  a  large  number  of  communications  on  a 
variety  of  topics,  some  as  far  back  as  the  first  Reform  movement 
in  Charleston.  Glancing  through  others,  we  find  here  a  com- 
mission from  the  Antipodes  to  select  the  materials  for  a  Jewish 
library  in  Sydney,  there  a  commission  from  Canada  to  present  a 
congratulatory  address  from  the  Jews  of  Montreal  to  the  first 
Jewish  Lord  Mayor  of  London.  From  the  West  Indies,  in- 
struction and  advice  are  sought  on  certain  doctrinal  points. f 

•  The  late  Solomon  Solis,  the  able  contributor  to  the  Occident,  was  a  fre- 
quent visitor  at  Mr.  De  Sola's  during  his  sta}'  in  England.  The  writer  well 
remembers  how  earnestly  he  sought  opinion  and  information  from  Mr.  De 
Sola  on  a  topic  he  was  then  discussing  in  the  Occident — the  Immortality  of 
the  Soul. 

f  There  is  a  characteristic  letter  from  the  well  known  B.  C.  Carillon.  After 
thanking  him  "  with  heartfelt  gratitude"  for  aiding  him  to  discharge  a  filial 
duty,  he  refers  to  Mr.  De  Sohi's  Bible  translation  as  a  gigantic  under- 
taking, and  continues  "  to  translate  well  that  interesting  portion  of  Scrip- 
ture (the  Prophets)  demands  thorough  theologians.  To  render  it  as  it  should 
be,  a  perfect  knowledge  of  the  Hebrew  grammar  is  but  the  least  requirement. 
A  scholar  is  not  yet  a  theologian,  and  if  I  grant  that  besides  yourself,  Mr. 
Kaphall  and  a  few  others,  there  be  many  perfect  Hebrew  scholars  in  Eng- 
land, yet  will  that  enable  them  to  translate  the  Prophets?  To  do  so  they 
ought  not  only  to  be  well-trained  theologians,  but  also  Poets,  and  they  must 
have  entered  into  the  spirit  of  the  sacred  Poetry.  Moreover  a  mere  trans- 
lation, without  proper  illustrations,  is  as  good  as  nothing.  Your  plan  is 
the  best  made  within  the  last  fifty  years,  and  I  therefore  beseech  you  to 
proceed  with  it.  Were  I  to  translate  the  Bible  I  would  follow  the  example 
of  the  old  Targumim  and  that  of  Mendelssohn,  by  giving  at  once  the  true 
meaning  of  the  original  in  the  translation ;  for  unless  we  paraphrase  we  give 


BIOGEAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  80LA.  49 

From  Belgium  he  receives  from  the  Jewish  Literary  Society  a 
highly   complimentary  letter,    accompanying    his    Diploma    as 
Honorary  member.     From  his  native  Holland  the  communica- 
tions are  quite  voluminous,  chiefly  from  the  learned  J.  J.  Beliu- 
fante,  to  whose  magazines  he  was  an  industrious  contributor.* 
Next  we  perceive  various  Hebrew  letters,  chiefly  calls  for  mate- 
rial aid  and. sympathy  from  distant  Asia  and  Africa,  and  nearer 
home  we  find  not  a  few  letters  of  thanks  from  Jewish  authors  for 
literary    assistance   rendered,  or  for    aid   in    circulating    their 
works.     Among  these  we  find  the  names  of  almost  every  Anglo- 
Jewish  writer,  besides  a  large  number  from  abroad.     The  editors 
of  the  Jewish  Journals  also  acknowledge  their  indebtedness  to 
him  for  occasional  assistance  and  translations  from  the  various 
foreign  Jewish  periodicals,  such  as  the  Hebrew  "Hamagid,"  the 
Spanish  "  Shaarai    Misrach,"  the  Italian  "  Cronica  Israelita," 
the  French  "Archives  Israelites,"  the  Dutch  "  Tijdschrift,"  the 
German  "  Orient,"  Zeitung  des  Judenthums,  &c.     Indeed  his 
extensive   attainments  as  a  linguist  were  brought  into  request 
not  only  in  this  manner,  but  some  of  the  principal  Proctors  of 
Doctors  Commons,  Mr.  De  Pinna  and  other  votaries,  were  for 
many  years  accustomed  to  avail  themselves  of  his  services  for 
important   translations.      The  number  and  variety  of  subjects 
whereon  he  is  addressed  by  Christian  writers  is  truly  curious ; 
clergy  and  laity  alike  propound  questions  in  Philology,  Biblical 
Archaeology,  Jewish  Antiquities,  History,  &c. — frequently  with 
a  view  of  evolving  Jewish  opinion  on  the  great  moral  movements 
of  the  day,  such  as  the  Temperance  Question,  and  his  replies 
have  been  embodied  in  their  works.f   The  writer  himself  records 


but  the  dead  letter  without  the  spirit.  I  have  myself  already  rendered  in 
that  manner  several  chapters  of  Isaiah  and  would  undertake  to  finish  it ;  but 
Avhat  can  we  do  in  the  West  Indie^s?  "Were  I  in  England,  I  would  assist 
you  in  convincing  our  English  brethren,  that  if  they  be  richer,  because  they 
live  among  the  greatest  commercial  nation  of  the  present  lime,  yet  can  they 
not  cope  with  the  Dutcli  and  German  Jews  in  kuowledgc,  and  least  of  all  in 
theological  knowledge." 

*  His  co-religionists  in  his  native  city  always  evinced  great  interest  and 
pride  in  him.  JJr.  J.  J.  Belinfante  in  his  "Sketch  of  Jewish  writers  since 
Mendelssohn,''  which  appeared  in  the  quarterly  Tijdschrift,  Xo.  3,  Amster- 
dam, 1851,  refers  to  him  in  a  most  complimentary  manner  and  gives  a  long 
account  of  his  activity.  See  als©  Leerrodc  door  A.  C.  Carillon,  Amsterdam, 
1833,  and  an  article  on  "The  Anglo-JcAvish  "Writers,"  in  the  Nederlandsch 
Israelitische  Jaarboekje,  1855. 

fSee  among  others  "The  Strong  Drink  Question,"  <' Total  Abstinence 
harmonized  with  .Scripture,"  &c. 


'50  BIOGRAPHY   OF  DAVID   AARON   DE   SOLA. 

as  a  duty  his  undying  gratitude  for  the  instruction  and  aid  he 
has  obtained  from  him  in  the  solution  of  doubts  on  many  theo- 
logical and  scientific  points.  His  communications  received  from 
1847  to  1860,  and  which  have  been  preserved,  would  be  regarded 
by  every  Hebrew  student  as  exceedingly  valuable  and  interest- 
ing. They  created  one  of  those  debts  for  which  there  can  be  no 
return.  From  various  MS.  Addresses,  Funeral  Discourses,  Re- 
ports of  Committees  drafted  by  him,  and  printed  notices,  we  per- 
ceive that  of  late  years  much  of  his  time  must  have  been  devoted 
to  the  service  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  of  which  he  was  a  highly 
esteemed  member  and  the  respected  chaplain  of  the  Joppa  Lodge. 
The  published  report  of  a  celebration  of  the  exalted  Joppa  Royal 
Arch  Chapter  styles  him  "Companion"  of  the  Chapter.*  It 
might  be  supposed  that  so  many  engagements  would  necessarily 
narrow  his  leisure  in  the  family  and  social  circles.  Bat  this  was 
not  so.  He  was  eminently  of  a  social  disposition  and  gathered 
around  him  not  merely  a  number  of  acquaintances,  but  of  warm 
friends,  who  deemed  it  a  privilege  to  draw  nearer  yet  in  their 
intercourse  with  one  so  highly  gifted  and,  yet  withal,  so  remark- 
ably unassuming.  The  writer  will  not  essay  to  describe  him 
fully  in  the  family  circle.  Venerated  and  idolized  by  his  chil- 
dren, time  has  only  served  to  develop  the  wide  and  desolate 
extent  of  their  loss.  There  is  not  a  shadow,  however  faint,  to 
darken  the  bright,  even  if  tearful,  memories  of  this  best  of 
parents.  Specially  dignified  in  manner  as  in  personal  appear- 
ance, he  was  yet  most  indulgent  to  all  short-comings,  most 
patient  in  his  teachings,  and  was  wont  to  reprove  not  with  seve- 
rity, but  by  some  wise  and  witty  saying,  or  some  humorous 
etching  of  his  ever  ready  pencil.  To  promote  the  happiness  and 
welfare  of  his  children  was  the  great  study  and  main  efibrt  of 
his  life.  Around  the  cheerful  fireside  he  would  gather  with  them 
and  the  dear  partner  of  his  cares,  and,  putting  aside  the  graver 
engagements  and  studies  of  the  day,  would  become  a  very  child 
among  children,  interested  in  all  their  occupations,  participating 
in  all  their  amusements,  turning,  it  might  be,  from  the  profound 
pages  of  a  Maimonides  and  Abarbanel  to  read  aloud  to  them  the 
sayings  of  Sam  Weller  and  Mr.  Pickwick.     But  here  is  a  topic 

_ s : . 

*  Jew.  Chron.  vi.  37,  xiv.  137,  t&c. 


BIOGRAPHY    OF  DAVID   AARON  DE  SOLA.  .         51 

we  may  not  continue.  Days  made  happy  by  his  ever  considerate 
love  and  improved  by  his  ever  watchful  care,  peaceful  Sabbaths, 
joyous  festivals  and  merry  anniversaries,  alike  speak  out  from 
the  tomb  of  the  past  with  their  tender  memories  on  which  the 
mind  loves  to  dwell  not  unpleasureably. 

We  now  append  the  list  of  his  works  to  which  we  before 
referred : 

IN  HEBREW. 

I.  'k  pSn  Dn*i3D  JHJD  frtSann  "nD 
II.  ""d  ujdt  'DDnh  nnjx 

III.  '"d  nni  nTpi?3  njin  idk:;!'?  b&  o'^u'jn  'J3  n^x  * 

IV,  pnjib^  D'TiiJD  p"pb  nty'inn  'dhj  ^ijn  ora  mm  Tts' 

V.  DHjraTn  p"pb  ntyinn  'jna  nja  pji  ^^-ixb  min  ora  nn  Sip 
VI.  S''jn  '3n3  -jun  dvj  mm  ti? 


*  We  extract  from  one  of  his  ordinary  communications  to  us  the  following, 
respecting  this  delightful  production,  of  Luzzato,  which  he  has  enriched 
with  learned  critical  notices.  *  *  "  A  work  unique  in  its  kind.  The  ori- 
ginal edition  was  printed  by  him  (Luzzato)  in  London  ;  but  as  only  one  hun- 
dred copies  were  struck  off,  it  has  quite  disappeared.  Even  the  British  Mu- 
seum and  Oxford  Libraries  do  not  possess  a  copy.  It  was  however  reprinted 
by  Satnov  some  years  ago  but  full  of  errors,  and  with  omissions  of  a  great 
many  of  the  Poems.  Having  had  it  lent  to  me  by  Dr.  Van  Ovan  (in  1824), 
1  copied  it.  Its  literary  merit  I  need  not  enlarge  upon.  It  is  the  best  work 
of  its  kind,  and  is  sufficiently  known  and  celebrated  as  such.  I  have  writ- 
ten an  article  on  E.  Luzzato  in  "  Der  Orient."  You  will  find  it  entitled 
"De  Sola  iiber  Ephraim  Luzzato."  The  following  is  his  record  of  the  time 
(p'^Q)  when  he  finished  this  work: — 

ji^n  tynnb  'd  '^'"31  tDvn  Tmoi  31D  jd-ds  nin  *i3Dn  npn;rn  noWn  "nni 

To  the  original  title  he  adds  the  following : — 
DJ12iyn'7    1766    n:t!f3  G.  Eichardson  &  S.  Clark  n'  Sj;  n";?'  pnjlba  D£nj 


52         ,  BIOQBAPHT  OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA. 

IN  HEBREW  AND  ENGLISH.  ^!Hr 

VII.  ni3"i3*nD  "The  Blessings,"  with  Introductory  Essay 

on  Thanksgiving,  1  vol.,  1829. 
VIII.  niSann  inD   "Forms  of  Prayer,"    of  the  Portuguese 

Minhag,  new  Translation  with  Notes  and  Calendar  for 

Fifty  Years,  &c.,  6  vols.,  1836. 
IX.  Second  edition  of  the  same,  with  additions,   &c.,   6 

vols.,  1852. 
X.  jTK'Nna  "I3D    "  The  Sacred  Scriptures,"  new  Transla- 
tion  with   copious   Notes,    in    conjunction   with  Dr. 

Raphall,  Genesis,  1  vol.,  1844. 
XL  'n  nj^io'?  "iiina    "Festival  Prayers,"  according  to  the 

German  and  Polish  Minhag,  4  vols.,  1860. 

IN  ENGLISH. 

XII.  "  The  Mishna,"  conjointly  with  Dr.  Raphall.  A  por- 
tion (Eighteen  Treatises)  of  this  work  was  published 
by  Mr.  B.  Elkin,  1  vol.,  1845. 

XIII.  The  Sacred  Scriptures,  English  edition,  1  vol.,  1843. 

XIV.  The  Ancient  Melodies  of  the  Liturgy  of  the  Spanish 
and  Portuguese  Jews,  1  vol.,  1857. 

XV.  The    Cheap  Jewish  Library,  edited  and  revised  for 

Charlotte  Montefiore,  2  vols.,  1841. 
XVI.  Sabbath  Evenings  at  Home,   edited  and  revised  for 
Miriam  Belisario,  2  parts,  1856. 
XVII.  Sermons  delivered  on  various  occasions  in  K.  K.  Shaar 

Ashamaim,  London,  3  vols.,  MS. 
XVIII.  Sermons  printed  by  the  Mahamad,  &c. 
XIX.  Three  Lectures  delivered  before  the  Jewish  Literary 
Society — "  Moses  the  Prophet,  Moses  Maimonides  and 
Moses  Mendelssohn,  MS. 
XX.  Contributions  to  the  Oriental  Review,  1836-40. 
XXI.  Contributions  to  the  Hebrew  Review  of  Dr.  Raphall. 
XXII.  Sermons  on  the  Decalogue,  from  the  German  of  Dr. 
Salomon,  (incomplete)  MS. 

XXIII.  "  The  Proper  Names  in  the  Scriptures,"  1837. 

XXIV.  Detailed  Calendar,  being  Tables  for  Fifty  Years,  &c., 
5594-5644,  MS. 


BIOGRAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  DB  SOLA.  53 

XXV.  "A  Common  Place  Book,"  in  which  a  variety  of  sub- 
jects are  contained,  extracts  from  rare  books,  &c.,  MS. 
XXVI.  Address  to  the  Israelites  of  Great  Britain,  MS. 
XXVII.  On  the  Establishment  of  a  Jewish  Normal  School, 

Plan  and  explanatory  remarks,  MS. 
XXVIII.  Notes  on  Basnage  and  Milman's  History  of  the  Jews, 
_  MS. 
XXIX.  Contributions  to  the  Anglo-Jewish  periodicals. 
XXX.  Miscellanies,  some  minor  pieces  in  MS.  e.  g.  on  the 
discussion  of  Sam.  xix.  13,  in  the  Hebrew  Review ; 
Translation  of  the  Preface  of  the  Chizuk  Emunah, 
for  a  translation  of  that  work  made  by  the  writer,  on 
the  Legend  of  the  Wandering  Jew.     A   Scheme  of 
Alterations  of  the  Pregaos  in    Synagogue,   and  for 
some  necessary  authorized  alterations  in  the  mode  of 
performing  divine  service ;  the  Jewish  Commentators 
on   the  Nazir   and   Temperance  Question.      On  the 
Exile  of  the  Jews  of  Spain.     A  translation  of  Aben 
Ezra's  Poem  on  Chess,  made  for  Alexandre,  &c.,  &g. 

IN  GERMAN. 

XXXI.  Contributions  to  the  Algemeine  Zeitung  des  Juden- 
thums,  1836-1845. 
XXXII.  Biography  of  Distinguished  Israelites  in  England; 

XXXIII.  Biography  of  Ephraim  Luzzato. 

XXXIV.  Contributions  to  the  Orient. 

IN  DUTCH. 

XXXV.  Biography  of  Reggio  (pamphlet). 
XXXVI.  Correspondence  with  J.  J.  Belinfante,  MS. 
XXXVII.  Historical  Account  of  Jewish  Periodicals  from  the 
latter  half  of  the  last  century  till  the  present  day. 
XXXVIII.  Biography  of  Grace  Aguilar. 
XXXIX.  Contributions  to  the  Quarterly  Magazine  of  the  "  So- 
ciety for  the  Benefit  of  the  Israelites  in  the  Nether- 
lands, published  at  the  Hague. 
XL.  Contributions  to  the  Ned.  Isr.  Jaarboek. 


54  BIOGRAPHY  OP  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA. 

With  the  above  list,  we  close  our  very  incomplete  notice  of  his 
literary  activity,  and  having  essayed  to  give  a  sketch  equally 
imperfect,  of  the  manner  in  "which  he  discharged  the  various 
duties  and  relations  of  life,  it  remains  for  us  now  but  to  speak  of 
the  final  close  of  a  career  not  less  honorable  to  the  house  of  Israel 
than  to  himself.  In  the  middle  of  August,  1860,  he  was  attacked 
with  erysipelas  in  his  left  hand  and  arm,  and  after  a  week  of 
intense  suffering  received  permission  from  his  physician  to  go  to 
Ramsgate  for  the  benefit  of  the  sea  air.  In  a  communication 
written  to  us  at  this  time,  he  refers  to  the  pressure  put  upon  him 
to  hurry  the  completion  of  the  translation  of  the  German  Pray- 
ers on  which  he  was  then  engaged,  though  able  to  use  one  hand 
only.  He  was  translating  the  concluding  service  of  Kipur — 
a  strangely  appropriate  subject  for  the  conclusion  of  his  labors — 
and  writes:  "I  have  had  to  do  this  enormous  and  diflBcult  work 
single-handed,  without  the  slightest  assistance,  and  I  cannot 
turn  out  anything  to  which  my  name  is  attached  unless  it 
be  as  well  done  as  it  is  in  my  power  to  make  it.  I  fear, 
though,  that  I  have  worked  too  much  at  it.  *  *  *  I  am  now 
at  the  nhyi  and  must  work  unceasingly  at  it,  even  with  one 
hand,  until  it  is  finished."*  The  work  was  finished  before  the 
holy  days,  just  as  the  publisher  had  sought  of  him.  He  had 
worked  on  in  pain,  or  in  intervals  of  relief,  until  he  arrived  at 
the  last  words  uttered  on  the  holy  Kipur  day — words  which  are 
also  the  last  syllabled  with  the  failing  breath  of  the  dying 
Israelite.  With  these  most  solemn  words  he  closed  his  literary 
labors,  never  more  to  resume  them. 

He  returned  from  the  sea-shore  to  be  in  town  during  the  holy- 
days  ;  but  a  month's  suffering  had  so  reduced  him  that  he  was 
unable  to  officiate  even  on  the  sacred  day  of  Kipur — and  this 
being  for  the  first  time  in  forty-three  years,  caused  him  the  deepest 
grief.  With  the  arrival  of  the  Succot  feast,  he  felt  sufficiently 
recovered  to  officiate,  but  was  deterred  from  doing  so,  by  the 
kind  remonstrances  of  his  friends.  He  spent  the  holyday  even- 
ing in  the  family^  tabernacle,  as  he  had  been  accustomed  for 

*  He  saw  no  revise  of  the  four  volumes  translated  by  him,  which  were  un- 
fortunately shorn  of  his  valuable  explanatory  notes  by  the  too  contracted  plan 
of  the  publisher. 


BIOGRAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA.  55 

nearly  half  a  century ;  but  this,  it  was  thought,  was  most  unfor- 
tunate, as  probably  too  long  a  stay  there  assisted  to  develope,  or 
perhaps  laid  the  germs  of  the  disease  which  subsequently  proved 
fatal.  Symptoms  appeared  which  were  pronounced  by  his  phy- 
sicians to  be  rheumatic  fever,  and  he  was  again  advised  to  leave 
town.  He,  however,  assisted  in  the  morning  service  of  Simhat 
Torah,  one  of  his  sons-in-law  being  the  Hatan  of  the  day. 
With  this  is  connected  a  circumstance  of  remarkable  character. 
When  the  law  had  been  taken  out,  to  the  surprise  of  many  and 
delight  of  all,  he  advanced  to  the  Teba,  and  after  a  silence  of  so 
many  weeks,  his  voice  was  once  more  heard  within  those  holy 
walls  commencing  *'  This  is  the  blessing  wherewith  Moses  the 
man  of  God  blessed  the  children  of  Israel  before  his  death." 
The  manner  in  which  he  chanted  this  last  portion  of  the  law,  we 
are  assured,  will  never  be  forgotten  by  those  who  heard  him. 
No  sick  man's  voice  was  that  which  now,  with  so  much  energy 
and  so  much  sweetness,  thrilled  through  every  nerve  of  his 
hearers.  The  whole  congregation  were  electrified  with  a  delivery 
of  which  their  Hazan  had  not  been  capable  in  the  best  days  of 
his  youth  and  strength.  Yet  many  besides  his  relatives  shed 
tears,  for  it  prognosticated  to  them  that  they  were  hearing  him 
for  the  last  time  ;  and  it  was  of  general  remark  after  the  service 
had  concluded,  that  it  appeared  as  if  he  was  addressing  that 
blessing  to  his  congregation  as  his  own  final  benediction  to  them. 
When  leaving  the  Synagogue,  all  crowded  around  him  to  ofl'er 
their  congratulations  at  seeing  him  again  at  his  post ;  and  at 
the  banquet  in  the  Vestry  chamber  which  succeeded,  all  the 
speakers  expressed  the  delight  they  felt  in  having  once  more 
heard  his  revered  voice.  These  evidences  of  the  warm  love  of 
his  flock  greatly  affected  him.  He  had  seemed  overjoyed  to  be 
again  at  the  Teba ;  but  with  the  departure  of  the  holydays  all 
joys  and  cares  were  for  him  to  fade  away.  And  here  let  it  be 
permitted  us  to  say,  that,  if  we  are  dwelling  somewhat  fully  in 
describing  his  last  hours,  we  do  so  because  they  were  so  edify- 
ing, so  indicative  of  true  piety  and  resignation,  that  we  deem  it 
not  less  right  than  profitable  to  recall  them.  His  disease  daily 
continued  to  make  cruel  progress,  the  most  eminent  physicians 
in  London  were  summoned,  who  pronounced  his  condition  to  be 


66  BIOGRAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA. 

most  perilous,  and  they  directed  his  removal  to   Shacklewell. 
On  the  Thursday — four  days  before  he  was  freed — it  was  an- 
nounced to  his  family  that  his  case  was  hopeless.     On  the  same 
day  he  calmly  inquired  of  one  of  his  physicians  if  he  thought 
him  in  extremis^  and  with  equal  calmness  received  the  announce- 
ment that  he  ought  immediately  to  arrange  his   earthly  affairs. 
But  always  understanding  the  frail  tenure  of  human  life,  he  had 
long  since  set  his  house  in  order,  as  pious  Jews  will.     His  only 
remark,  some  time  after  was  "  What  am  I  better  than  my  ances- 
tors?"— either  applying  these  words  to  the  shortness  of  his  life, 
(he  was  then  in  his  sixty-fourth  year)  or  following  out  some  other 
train  of  thought.    He  called  his  family  to  him,  and  in  all  their  grief 
— controlled  before  him — it  was  matter  of  wonder  to  them  how 
clear  and  collected  he  was  speaking  to   them  and   acquainting 
them  with  his  last  wishes.     He  desired  his  son-in-law.  Rev.  Mr. 
Mendes,  who  was  present,  to  read  the    Vidui,   the  last  solemn 
confessions,  with   him  ;   and  when  the  reader  faltered,  he  urged 
him   on  by  repeating  from  memory  every  word.     His  last  Sab- 
bath on  earth  approached.       He  had  greatly   suffered  on  the 
Friday,  but  towards  dusk  he  remarked  to  his  children  around 
him  that  it  was   Friday  evening,   and  inquired  whether  their 
mother  had  lit  the  Sabbath  light.     He  was  asked  if  he  would 
like  to  make  the  Kidush;  and  the  bread  being  cut  for  him,  he 
said  the  Sanctification  word  for  word  in  his  old  manner — though 
those  around  him  had  the  agony  of  knowing  that  they  were 
listening  to  the  well-known  words  for  the  last  time — that  the 
most  hallowed  associations  of  many  years  were  to  be  rent  asun- 
der, and  that  they  should  no  more  bend  their  heads  to  receive 
his  blessing  as  they  were  used    on  those  peaceful  and  happy 
Friday  nights.      He  maintained   his  consciousness  throughout 
the  Sabbath,   though   he   suffered  acutely ;    and    desirous   that 
his    children    should  not   be   harrowed  by  witnessing   his   suf- 
ferings,  called   them  singly  to    him  and  dismissed  them   with 
his  blessing.     Not  less  fervently  did  he  bestow  his  last  blessing 
on  his  absent  children  in  America,  and  on  his  eldest  daughter 
who  was  prevented  by  sickness  from  being  there.     On  the  Sun- 
day he  was  still  conscious  and  repeated  from  memory  several 
Psalms  and  the  Vidui,  with  his  attached  friend  Mr.  Benoliel, 


BIOGRAPHY  OP  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA.  57 

who,  like  many  others,  sought  as  highest  privilege  to  join  in  the 
last  prayers  of  such  a  man.  Indeed,  so  soon  as  it  became  known 
there  was  no  more  hope,  the  utmost  consternation  and  deepest 
grief  seized  his  congregation  and  friends  who  found  it  impossible 
to  realize  that  he  was  going  from  them.  The  house  of  Shackle- 
well  was  crowded  by  anxious  inquirers  and  those  desiring  to  see 
him  yet  once  more,  and  to  aid  and  comfort  his  family. 

His  colleague,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Piza,  who  always  looked  up  to 
him  with  the  esteem  and  reverence  of  a  son,  could  not  be  per- 
suaded to  leave  his  bedside,  day  or  night.  So  with  the  vene- 
rable Solomon  Almosnino,  and  other  equally  devoted  friends  of 
both  sexes.  "Feeling,"  writes  one,  to  express  the  sentiments  of 
all,  "  that  I  was  losing  a  dear  friend  and  adviser,  whom  I  loved 
as  if  nature  had  bound  me  to  him,  I  remained  near  him  to  the 
end."  The  nearer  that  end  approached  the  more  anxious  did  he 
become  to  be  removed  to  his  ol4  home,  which  adjoined  the  Syna- 
gogue. This  was  his  constant  request,  but  it  was  one  which  his 
family  saw  in  their  grief  might  not  be  granted  him.  His  mind 
seemed  to  settle  almost  entirely  on  the  one  point,  that  the  final 
separation  of  soul  and  body  might  be  in  closest  possible  proximi- 
ty to  the  old  Synagogue — near  the  hallowed  spot  where  the 
greater  part  of  his  life  had  been  piously  spent.  This  was  his  al- 
most sole  articulation,  unless  when  he  joined  in  the  prayers  so 
solemnly  ofiered  by  the  Ministers  near  him ;  and  when  the  last 
Shemang  was  pronounced,  it  was  a  beautiful  and  edifying  sight 
to  witness  how  his  face  lighted  up  as  he  repeated  it  after  them. 
The  last  word  he  uttered  was  the  Almighty's  name;  and  he  was 
not,  for  God  took  him. 

He  was  freed  on  Monday,  the  thirteenth  day  of  Heshvan,  (29th 
October)  5621,  at  about  five  minutes  before  eight  o'clock.  At  the 
same  hour  there  was  commenced  in  the  Shaar  Ashamain  Syna- 
gogue the  ordinary  morning  service,  the  first  words  of  which  are, 
^^My  Gody  the  soul  which  thou  hast  given  me  is  pure;  thou  taJcest 
it  from  me,  but  restorest  it  to  me  in  futurity ."  The  young  reader 
knew  not  that  the  pure  soul  of  his  revered  Minister,  a  few  miles 
distant,  had  just  departed,  to  commence  in  a  state  of  greater  pu- 
rity yet,  and  among  the  higher  intelligences,  its  adorations  of 
the  Adon  Kol  Haneshamot. 


58  BIOGRAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA. 

If  any  thing  could  alleviate  the  grief  of  his  distracted  family  it 
•was  the  extraordinary  respect  shown  to  his  memory  on  all  sides, 
and  that  their  sorrow  was  shared  by  so  many.  The  authorities 
of  the  congregation  did  all  they  possibly  could  to  evince  their  af- 
fectionate esteem  for  their  late  Minister.  They  determined  that 
every  thing  consistent  with  the  last  wishes  of  the  deceased — for 
he  had  prohibited  all  funeral  pomp  in  his  will — should  be  done  to 
invest  with  befiting  dignity  the  last  tribute  they  could  offer  to 
one  who  had  so  long  and  devotedly  ministered  to  their  highest 
interests.  They  proceeded  to  Shacklewell,  where  the  brethren 
of  the  Lavadores  took  charge  of  his  honored  remains  and  removed 
him  to  his  old  home.  The  melancholy  cortege  at  its  return  was 
met  with  general  evidences  of  regret  arvd  grief.  On  the  day  of  the 
funeral,  an  immense  assembly,  swelled  with  the  arrival  of  friends 
from  long  distances,  filled  the  neighborhood,  Jew  and  Gentile 
alike  desirous  of  exhibiting  a  last  token  of  respect  to  one  they 
deemed  so  worthy  of  it.  And  in  that  mixed  crowd  of  rich  and 
poor,  learned  and  untaught,  orthodox  and  reformers,  the  preva- 
lent exclamation  was,  not  how  great  a  scholar,  but  how  good  a 
man,  had  left  them.  Some  threescore  mourning  and  private  car- 
riages followed  the  hearse,  some  sent  by  the  Masonic  body*  who 
with  the  various  societies  and  the  general  public  formed  an  im- 
mense procession,  such  as  few  there  had  ever  witnessed.  Those 
most  solemn  obsequies  which  the  Sephardim  are  accustomed  to 
accord  to  their  departed  Hazanim  were  proceeded  with,  partici- 
pated in  by  Ministers  of  all  Synagogues ;  an^  amidst  the  solemn 
chants  which  left  no  heart  untouched  and  no  eye  tearless,  the 
honored  dead  was  carried  from  the  scene  of  his  past  labors; 
from  the  place  and  people  he  had  so  greatly  loved  in  life.  Un- 
able to  control  their  emotion,  strong  men  stepped  aside  to  weep 
like  children.  And  when  the  sad  rites  were  completed,  all  turned 
from  his  grave  with  the  indelible  consciousness  that  there  had 
been  deposited  a  man  of  extraordinary  moral  worth,  of  unsullied 
principles,  distinguished  for  all  those  amiable  qualities  that  grace 
humanity;  one  who  had  ever  done  honor  to  the  oflBce  he  held,  as 

*  A  solemn  Masonic  funeral  service  was  subsequently  (on  the  4th  No- 
vember) performed  in  honor  of  his  memory.  Brother  Berkowitz  officiating 
on  tho  mournful  occasion. 


BIOGKAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA.  59 

he  had  been  the  pride  and  ornament  of  the  congregation  he  had 
BO  long  and  faithfully  served.  Thoroughly  assured  that  he  had 
gone  to  reap  the  reward  of  his  many  virtues,  as  son,  husband,  pa- 
rent and  Israelite,  deeply  touched  hearts  dictated  to  willing  lips 
the  words  of  the  inspired  page,  "Let  me  die  the  death  of  the 
righteojis,  and  let  my  last  end  be  like  his !" 

We  do  not  refer  to  the  eulogiums  which  the  press,  the  resolu- 
tions of  various  societies  and  letters  of  condolence  from  all  quar- 
ters alike  bestowed  on  his  memory,*  but  we  close  our  willingly 
imposed  task  by  subjoining  some  remarks  with  which  we  have  been 
favored  by  one  who  was  neither  related  to  him  nor  a  member  of  his 
flock,  but  who  was  a  dispassionate  observer  of  his  course.  Mr. 
■J.  L.  Levison,  the  erudite  author  of  "Mental  Culture,"!  thus 
writes  of  him. 

*  *  *  "The  deceased  had  indeed  much  of  the  suaviter  in 
modo,  and  yet  he  was  not  deficient  in  tliefortiter  in  re;  for  he 
acted  with  a  steadiness  of  purpose  on  all  occasions." 

"Although  a  good  linguist  and  biblical  student  with  many  offi- 
cial duties  to  perform  and  the  care  and  anxiety  consequent  on  a 
large  family,  yet  he  always  appeared  cheerful.  And  we  espe- 
cially noticed  that  he  manifested  much  quiet  good-tempered  wit, 
without  any  tinge  of  ill  humor ;  and  although  he  could  excite  the 
risible  muscles  of  his  associates  on  such  occasions,  that  he  did  so 
without  leaving  any  unpleasant  recollections  to  rankle  in  the 
memory;  for  he  was  never  malicious  or  personal.  His  ample  and 
active  natural  benevolence  interposed  to  prevent  either  harshness 
or  malevolence ;  consistently  religious  himself,  he  did  not  act  with. 


*Not  the  least  prized  by  his  family  were  the  feeling  eulogistic  addresses 
delivered  in  the  vestry  chamber,  the  kind  consideration  manifested  toward  his 
widow  and  children,  and  the  immediate  appointment  of  his  youngest  son  to 
an  almost  similar  office. 

f  We  quote  from  Mr.  Levison's  kind  communication. 

♦'  In  a  recent  conversation  with  your  brother,  he  incidentally  mentioned  that 
you  were  preparing  an  account  of  the  life  and  literary  labors  of  your  late  es- 
teemed father,  ("peace  to  his  soul,  Amen,)  and  he  said  that  you  would  not  ob- 
ject to  insert  a  few  memoranda,  which  I  had  jotted  down  after  attending  his 
funeral." 

Westridge  Villa,  St.  John's  Wood. 


60  BIOGRAPHY  OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA. 

asperity  or  vindictiveness  to  those  "who  were  lax,  but  he  vould 
give  some  apposite  anecdote,  the  moral  of  which  might  convey  a 
covert  reproof  or  not,  as  he  left  it  to  the  sagacity  of  his  hearers 
to  form  their  own  inference. 

"We  have  visited  him  at  his  own  house,  where  surrounded  by 
his  amiable  partner  and  family  he  appeared  the  same  considerate 
being,  and  when  he  addressed  young  or  old,  all  were  impressed 
with  a  feeling  of  esteem  from  his  good-heartedness  and  consider- 
ation. 

"Modest,  as  all  true  scholars  are  said  to  be,  he  spoke  not  as 
if  he  were  a  master,  but  as  a  student  interchanging  ideas  with  a 
kindred  companion.  Such  a  state  of  mind  is  a  surety  that  he 
had  cultivated  his  moral  attributes  with  his  intellectual  powers. 
Possessing  a  tendency  to  study  individualities  of  minds,  we  had  no* 
ticed  the  peculiar  traits  of  the  Rev.  D.  A.  De  Sola,  and  had  marked 
the  influence  of  certain  combinations  of  his  mental  powers  in  the 
formation  of  his  own  individuality  of  character.  Thus  we  are 
assured  that  he  possessed  both  strong  feelings  and  moral  senti- 
ments, and  these  conjointly  gave  to  his  religious  professions  their 
practical  tendency.  As  husband,  father,  and  friend,  he  was  both 
considerate  and  t:ind.  His  humor  partook  more  of  the  playful- 
ness of  a  happy,  child-like  spirit,  trying  to  throw  ofi"  worldly  cares 
from  his  own  mind  and  from  .the  minds  of  those  with  whom  he 
associated. 

"  Other  observations  presented  him  to  us  under  graver  aspects, 
and  yet  under  even  such  circumstances  he  invariably  preserved  his 
cordial  and  unostentatious  character,  and  was,  therefore,  always 
the  true  gentleman.  We  also  often  noticed,  that  though  himself 
a  scholar  and  thinker,  yet  he  could  make  himself  perfectly  in- 
telligible to  those  who  had  no  pretensions  to  learning,  and  that, 
when  he  addressed  such  persons,  he  did  not  offend  their  egotism, 
but  used  the  most  unpedantic  terms  and  assumed  a  quiet,  collo- 
quial manner.  It  was  the  latter  traits  that  invariably  brought 
to  our  minds  the  words  which  Moses  Mendelssohn  addressed  to 
the  surviving  brother  of  Lessing, — we  quote  from  memory, — 
*  Your  brother  had  the  capacity  to  impart  knowledge  in  such  a 
simple  and  natural  manner,  that  those  who  were  the  recipients  of 
his  information  could  scarcely  distinguish  the  fact  whether  they 


BIOGKAPHY    OF  DAVID  AARON  DE  SOLA.'  61 

had  or  had  not  themselves  excogitated  the  new  ideas,  and  thus 
he  was  unlike  some  of  the  rich  who,  when  they  confer  favors, 
make  us  feel  the  weight  of  the  obligations  we  incur, — he,  on  the 
contrary,  bestowed  his  mental  wealth  so  generously  that,  in  appro- 
priating it,  we  became  unconscious  of  the  source  from  which  we 
had  received  it.* 

"  This  faculty  of  giving  generously  his  thoughts  for  the  benefit 
of  others,  we  had  often  observed  in  our  late  esteemed  friend,  even 
in  a  promiscuous  conversation.  And  that  he  would  make  the 
most  erudite  remarks  or  give  some  curious  antiquarian  informa- 
tion without  any  one  having  his  feelings  compromised  from  the 
absence  of  any  thing  like  egotism  on  his  part. 

"It  must  not  be  supposed  that  he  was  not  greatly  appreciated. 
At  the  last  sad  scene  of  suffering  humanity,  where  'the  body  is 
returned  to  the  earth' and  the  spirit  to  the  God  who  gave  it,'  there 
were  unmistakable  proofs  how  much  he  was  beloved  and  respected, 
as  the  aspect  of  that  large  assembly  had  a  sadness  of  expression 
as  if  some  one  near  akin  had  departed  from  each  of  them. 

"We  have  not  entered  into  any  details  confirmatory  of  the 
above  mentioned  statements,  as,  in  all  probability,  the  learned 
Editor  will  supply  many  illustrative  facts  to  confirm  their  accu- 
racy. This  he  will  do  from  a  deep  sense  of  filial  love  and  to  do 
justice  to  one  who  had  devoted  his  life  to  elucidate  and  instruct 
his  contemporaries  in  their  duties,  which  as  Israelites  they  owe 
to  God,  to  their  faith,  and  as  members  of  the  community.  And 
we  believe  that  he  indeed  practised  what  he  taught.'' 


ERRATA. 

Page  4,  line  28,  for  Zinn's,  read,  Finn's ;  page  4,  line  36,  for  a  la  houra  (?> 
read,  a  la  boura;  page  7,  line  15,  for  naNJ3l  read,  riDX^I  J  page  10,  line  16,  for 
late,  read,  later;  page  14,  line  8,  for  20th,  read,  26th;  page  14,  line  33,  for  ten, 
read,  two;  page  15,  line  9,  for  12th,  read,  13th;  page  16,  line  17,  for  an,  read, 
and;  page  17,  line  4,  for  Harris,  read,  Morris;  page  19,  line  17,  for  behalv- 
ing,  read,  beholding;  page  20,  line  13,  for  He,  read,  It;  page  20,  line  37,  for 
incompetent,  read,  incomplete;  page  24,  line  11,  for  translator,  read,  transla- 
tors; page  32,  line  3  of  note,  for  him,  read,  pain;  page  40,  line  7,  for  conver- 
sation, read,  condensation;  page  46,  line  20,  for  the  History,  read,  his  Histos 
ry;  page  49,  line  20,  for  votaries,  read,  notaries.  p; 


■■'  %*' 


■V'  '''■:}^'^ 


I 


